18 U.S.C. 2703 ECPA · Chapter 121: STORED WIRE AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSACTIONAL RECORDS ACCESS
18 U.S.C. 2703 ECPA: Required disclosure of customer communications or records
United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026.
Official text
Contents of Wire or Electronic Communications in Electronic Storage.—A governmental entity may require the disclosure by a provider of electronic communication service of the contents of a wire or electronic communication, that is in electronic storage in an electronic communications system for one hundred and eighty days or less, only pursuant to a warrant issued using the procedures described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (or, in the case of a State court, issued using State warrant procedures and, in the case of a court-martial or other proceeding under chapter 47 of title 10 (the Uniform Code of Military Justice), issued under section 846 of that title, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the President) by a court of competent jurisdiction. A governmental entity may require the disclosure by a provider of electronic communications services of the contents of a wire or electronic communication that has been in electronic storage in an electronic communications system for more than one hundred and eighty days by the means available under subsection (b) of this section.
Contents of Wire or Electronic Communications in a Remote Computing Service.—(1) A governmental entity may require a provider of remote computing service to disclose the contents of any wire or electronic communication to which this paragraph is made applicable by paragraph (2) of this subsection—
without required notice to the subscriber or customer, if the governmental entity obtains a warrant issued using the procedures described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (or, in the case of a State court, issued using State warrant procedures and, in the case of a court-martial or other proceeding under chapter 47 of title 10 (the Uniform Code of Military Justice), issued under section 846 of that title, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the President) by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
with prior notice from the governmental entity to the subscriber or customer if the governmental entity—
uses an administrative subpoena authorized by a Federal or State statute or a Federal or State grand jury or trial subpoena; or
obtains a court order for such disclosure under subsection (d) of this section;
except that delayed notice may be given pursuant to section 2705 of this title.
Paragraph (1) is applicable with respect to any wire or electronic communication that is held or maintained on that service—
on behalf of, and received by means of electronic transmission from (or created by means of computer processing of communications received by means of electronic transmission from), a subscriber or customer of such remote computing service; and
solely for the purpose of providing storage or computer processing services to such subscriber or customer, if the provider is not authorized to access the contents of any such communications for purposes of providing any services other than storage or computer processing.
Records Concerning Electronic Communication Service or Remote Computing Service.—(1) A governmental entity may require a provider of electronic communication service or remote computing service to disclose a record or other information pertaining to a subscriber to or customer of such service (not including the contents of communications) only when the governmental entity—
obtains a warrant issued using the procedures described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (or, in the case of a State court, issued using State warrant procedures and, in the case of a court-martial or other proceeding under chapter 47 of title 10 (the Uniform Code of Military Justice), issued under section 846 of that title, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the President) by a court of competent jurisdiction;
obtains a court order for such disclosure under subsection (d) of this section;
has the consent of the subscriber or customer to such disclosure;
submits a formal written request relevant to a law enforcement investigation concerning telemarketing fraud for the name, address, and place of business of a subscriber or customer of such provider, which subscriber or customer is engaged in telemarketing (as such term is defined in section 2325 of this title); or
seeks information under paragraph (2).
A provider of electronic communication service or remote computing service shall disclose to a governmental entity the—
name;
address;
local and long distance telephone connection records, or records of session times and durations;
length of service (including start date) and types of service utilized;
telephone or instrument number or other subscriber number or identity, including any temporarily assigned network address; and
means and source of payment for such service (including any credit card or bank account number),
of a subscriber to or customer of such service when the governmental entity uses an administrative subpoena authorized by a Federal or State statute or a Federal or State grand jury or trial subpoena or any means available under paragraph (1).
A governmental entity receiving records or information under this subsection is not required to provide notice to a subscriber or customer.
Requirements for Court Order.—A court order for disclosure under subsection (b) or (c) may be issued by any court that is a court of competent jurisdiction and shall issue only if the governmental entity offers specific and articulable facts showing that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the contents of a wire or electronic communication, or the records or other information sought, are relevant and material to an ongoing criminal investigation. In the case of a State governmental authority, such a court order shall not issue if prohibited by the law of such State. A court issuing an order pursuant to this section, on a motion made promptly by the service provider, may quash or modify such order, if the information or records requested are unusually voluminous in nature or compliance with such order otherwise would cause an undue burden on such provider.
No Cause of Action Against a Provider Disclosing Information Under This Chapter.—No cause of action shall lie in any court against any provider of wire or electronic communication service, its officers, employees, agents, or other specified persons for providing information, facilities, or assistance in accordance with the terms of a court order, warrant, subpoena, statutory authorization, or certification under this chapter.
(f)
Requirement To Preserve Evidence.—
In general.—A provider of wire or electronic communication services or a remote computing service, upon the request of a governmental entity, shall take all necessary steps to preserve records and other evidence in its possession pending the issuance of a court order or other process.
Period of retention.—Records referred to in paragraph (1) shall be retained for a period of 90 days, which shall be extended for an additional 90-day period upon a renewed request by the governmental entity.
Presence of Officer Not Required.—Notwithstanding section 3105 of this title, the presence of an officer shall not be required for service or execution of a search warrant issued in accordance with this chapter requiring disclosure by a provider of electronic communications service or remote computing service of the contents of communications or records or other information pertaining to a subscriber to or customer of such service.
(h)
Comity Analysis and Disclosure of Information Regarding Legal Process Seeking Contents of Wire or Electronic Communication.—
Definitions.—In this subsection—
the term “qualifying foreign government” means a foreign government—
with which the United States has an executive agreement that has entered into force under section 2523; and
the laws of which provide to electronic communication service providers and remote computing service providers substantive and procedural opportunities similar to those provided under paragraphs (2) and (5); and
the term “United States person” has the meaning given the term in section 2523.
Motions to quash or modify.—(A) A provider of electronic communication service to the public or remote computing service, including a foreign electronic communication service or remote computing service, that is being required to disclose pursuant to legal process issued under this section the contents of a wire or electronic communication of a subscriber or customer, may file a motion to modify or quash the legal process where the provider reasonably believes—
that the customer or subscriber is not a United States person and does not reside in the United States; and
that the required disclosure would create a material risk that the provider would violate the laws of a qualifying foreign government.Such a motion shall be filed not later than 14 days after the date on which the provider was served with the legal process, absent agreement with the government or permission from the court to extend the deadline based on an application made within the 14 days. The right to move to quash is without prejudice to any other grounds to move to quash or defenses thereto, but it shall be the sole basis for moving to quash on the grounds of a conflict of law related to a qualifying foreign government.
Upon receipt of a motion filed pursuant to subparagraph (A), the court shall afford the governmental entity that applied for or issued the legal process under this section the opportunity to respond. The court may modify or quash the legal process, as appropriate, only if the court finds that—
the required disclosure would cause the provider to violate the laws of a qualifying foreign government;
based on the totality of the circumstances, the interests of justice dictate that the legal process should be modified or quashed; and
the customer or subscriber is not a United States person and does not reside in the United States.
Comity analysis.—For purposes of making a determination under paragraph (2)(B)(ii), the court shall take into account, as appropriate—
the interests of the United States, including the investigative interests of the governmental entity seeking to require the disclosure;
the interests of the qualifying foreign government in preventing any prohibited disclosure;
the likelihood, extent, and nature of penalties to the provider or any employees of the provider as a result of inconsistent legal requirements imposed on the provider;
the location and nationality of the subscriber or customer whose communications are being sought, if known, and the nature and extent of the subscriber or customer’s connection to the United States, or if the legal process has been sought on behalf of a foreign authority pursuant to section 3512, the nature and extent of the subscriber or customer’s connection to the foreign authority’s country;
the nature and extent of the provider’s ties to and presence in the United States;
the importance to the investigation of the information required to be disclosed;
the likelihood of timely and effective access to the information required to be disclosed through means that would cause less serious negative consequences; and
if the legal process has been sought on behalf of a foreign authority pursuant to section 3512, the investigative interests of the foreign authority making the request for assistance.
Disclosure obligations during pendency of challenge.—A service provider shall preserve, but not be obligated to produce, information sought during the pendency of a motion brought under this subsection, unless the court finds that immediate production is necessary to prevent an adverse result identified in section 2705(a)(2).
Disclosure to qualifying foreign government.—(A) It shall not constitute a violation of a protective order issued under section 2705 for a provider of electronic communication service to the public or remote computing service to disclose to the entity within a qualifying foreign government, designated in an executive agreement under section 2523, the fact of the existence of legal process issued under this section seeking the contents of a wire or electronic communication of a customer or subscriber who is a national or resident of the qualifying foreign government.
Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to modify or otherwise affect any other authority to make a motion to modify or quash a protective order issued under section 2705.
Source: United States Code, title 18, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced.
Source credit: (Added Pub. L. 99-508, title II, § 201[(a)] , Oct. 21, 1986 , 100 Stat. 1861 ; amended Pub. L. 100-690, title VII , §§ 7038, 7039, Nov. 18, 1988 , 102 Stat. 4399 ; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII, § 330003(b) , Sept. 13, 1994 , 108 Stat. 2140 ; Pub. L. 103-414, title II, § 207(a) , Oct. 25, 1994 , 108 Stat. 4292 ; Pub. L. 104-132, title VIII, § 804 , Apr. 24, 1996 , 110 Stat. 1305 ; Pub. L. 104-293, title VI, § 601(b) , Oct. 11, 1996 , 110 Stat. 3469 ; Pub. L. 104-294, title VI, § 605(f) , Oct. 11, 1996 , 110 Stat. 3510 ; Pub. L. 105-184, § 8 , June 23, 1998 , 112 Stat. 522 ; Pub. L. 107-56, title II , §§ 209(2), 210, 212(b)(1), 220(a)(1), (b), Oct. 26, 2001 , 115 Stat. 283 , 285, 291, 292; Pub. L. 107-273, div. B, title IV, § 4005(a)(2) , div. C, title I, § 11010, Nov. 2, 2002 , 116 Stat. 1812 , 1822; Pub. L. 107-296, title XXII, § 2207(h)(1) , formerly title II, § 225(h)(1), Nov. 25, 2002 , 116 Stat. 2158 , renumbered § 2207(h)(1), Pub. L. 115-278, § 2(g)(2)(I) , Nov. 16, 2018 , 132 Stat. 4178 ; Pub. L. 109-162, title XI, § 1171(a)(1) , Jan. 5, 2006 , 119 Stat. 3123 ; Pub. L. 111-79, § 2(1) , Oct. 19, 2009 , 123 Stat. 2086 ; Pub. L. 114-328, div. E, title LVII, § 5228(b)(1) , Dec. 23, 2016 , 130 Stat. 2912 ; Pub. L. 115-141, div. V, § 103(b) , Mar. 23, 2018 , 132 Stat. 1214 .)
18 U.S.C. 2703 on the Office of the Law Revision Counsel
United States Code, current through Public Law 119-136 (October 22, 2026). Retrieved 30 October 2026.
This is reference material, not legal advice.