The following information is provided for law enforcement entities that seek information about users of the Ministays platform. (i.e., would like to submit a “Law Enforcement Request”). All other requests for information regarding the Ministays platform, including user questions regarding reservations and user information, should be directed to our Customer Support team. We reserve the right to make changes to the information on this page at any time without notice. You should check this page each time you’re making a Law Enforcement Request.
For the purposes of this policy, “Ministays” refers to the Ministays platform. Ministays, Inc.
We receive and respond to valid requests for user information on a regular basis. We do so in accordance with our terms of service, privacy policy, and law enforcement guidelines.
- Form of all requests
- Procedures for US law enforcement requests
- US Attorney General complaints
- Procedures for non-US law enforcement requests
- Cross-border information requests
- Emergency Requests
Form of all requests
Ministays is unable to process overly broad or vague Law Enforcement Requests. Additionally, MiniSatys will not respond to Law Enforcement Requests that do not comply with applicable laws. We will only consider Law Enforcement Requests that are:
- Typed and in PDF file format
- On law enforcement entity letterhead and duly signed and stamped by the appropriate law enforcement officer who is empowered by local law to represent the law enforcement entity that is making the request
- Compliant with all applicable laws. If you are unclear about the legal requirements related to your request, you should seek appropriate legal advice.
- Drafted in English or translated to English.
In order for Ministays to process your Law Enforcement Request, it should include the following elements:
- All known email addresses, names, and aliases of the data subject about whom you seek information. This includes all known physical addresses and telephone numbers of the data subject. This helps Ministays identify the data subject
- Your name, title, and department; the law enforcement entity or agency you represent. This includes the law enforcement entity or agency’s street address, telephone number, fax number, and email address
- The specific information about the data subject that you request. For example, why you’re requesting this information; the alleged crime you are investigating; and how the information you request pertains to the alleged crime you are investigating
- The applicable act or law under which you have the legal authority to seek the specific information you request
- The applicable act or law under which you request that notification to the data subject be withheld, if applicable
Procedures for US law enforcement requests
All requests from US Law Enforcement (“US Law Enforcement Requests”) should be addressed to Ministays, Inc. Ministays, Inc. will respond to valid, properly served requests, to the extent permitted by its Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and US law, where proper service means submitting the request through the Ministays support team.
The following materials are required for a non-emergency US Law Enforcement Request to be valid:
- A valid trial, grand jury, or administrative subpoena is required to compel the disclosure of basic subscriber records as set forth in 18 USC § 2703(c)(2)
- A court order issued pursuant to 18 USC § 2703(d) is required to compel the disclosure of other records pertaining to an account, not including the contents of user communications
- For the content of user communications, a search warrant issued under the procedures described in the US Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (or equivalent state warrant procedures) is required
If you have questions about these legal requirements, you should seek appropriate legal advice. The above notwithstanding, Ministays, Inc. explicitly reserves the right to require the use of specific additional processes or of an applicable Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (“MLAT”) process, where applicable.
User Notification
Please note that Ministays, Inc. has a policy of using reasonable efforts to notify affected users when it receives a valid Law Enforcement Request seeking user data. Ministays, Inc. will notify the relevant user(s) identified in the Law Enforcement Request. In the event the user wishes to seek appropriate protective relief, except where a separate court order (not just the Law Enforcement Request itself) expressly requires Ministays, Inc. to delay or withhold notification; where notification is otherwise prohibited by law; or where Ministays, Inc., in its sole discretion, believes that providing notice would be futile, ineffective, or would create a risk of injury or bodily harm to an individual or group, or to its property.
All delayed notification and non-disclosure orders issued to Ministays, Inc. must comply with 18 USC § 2705(b). In addition to meeting all other legal requirements, any court order precluding user notification under this section must include a judicial determination that there is reason to believe that notification of the existence of the court order will have one or more of the following adverse results, as set forth in the statute:
- Endangering the life or physical safety of an individual;
- Flight from prosecution;
- Destruction of or tampering with evidence;
- Intimidation of potential witnesses; or
- Otherwise seriously jeopardizing an investigation or unduly delaying a trial
In order to be valid, all non-disclosure orders must identify the period during which the order is effective.
Consistent with its policy of providing notice to users of Law Enforcement Requests that implicate their user data, Ministays, Inc. may request that the government initiate judicial review of any non-disclosure order issued in connection with a national security letter.
US Attorney General Complaints
If you are a US government official working with a state of federal regulatory authority (such as a state attorney general office), you can contact us in regards to consumer complaints or other similar matters by contacting Ministays by email. Messages originating from non-government domains will be deleted and no response will be provided. Emergency requests, law enforcement requests, or data requests should not be submitted to this email address.
Cross-order Information Requests
All requests for user information should be issued according to the processes outlined above and must comply with relevant law. Depending on the circumstances and the information sought, Ministays may require the requesting law enforcement entity to follow relevant cross-border legal processes, such as via a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (“MLAT”). In order to obtain a relevant court order in the jurisdiction where the law enforcement entity seeks information. Except in circumstances in which Ministays can accept an Emergency Request, all Law Enforcement Requests for information about Ministays users must comply with local law. If you have questions about the legal requirements that apply to your Law Enforcement Request, you should seek appropriate legal advice.
Emergency Requests
In the event of an emergency involving an imminent risk of death or serious physical injury to any person, law enforcement may make an emergency disclosure request through our support team.
Requests for emergency disclosures should include the following elements:
- All known email addresses, names, date of birth, and aliases of the data subject about whom you seek information. This includes all known physical addresses and telephone numbers of the data subject. This information helps Ministays identify the data subject.
- Your name, department, street address, telephone number, fax number, and email address
- The specific information about the data subject that you are requesting on an emergency basis. For example, why you are requesting this information; and how this information pertains to your investigation
- The nature of the emergency. Additionally, why the information you are requesting is urgent and cannot be obtained through the use of ordinary Law Enforcement Requests
Ministays users or any third parties who are aware of an emergency situation should immediately contact local law enforcement officials.
