Guidelines for Law Enforcement

These guidelines are intended for law enforcement authorities seeking information about Pushee accounts.

What is Pushee?

Pushee is a real-time information network that lets users create and share ideas and information instantly. People and organizations send messages and post content through our mobile applications Pushee for Android and Pushee for iOS.

For more information, please visit www.Pushee.com.

What account information does Pushee have?

With Pushee, users do not follow other Pushee users directly- instead they join various “Channels” which are created by other users. If a user creates a Pushee Channel that user is by default the Channel’s Owner. Channel Owners can define the visibility of their Channels.  Channels can be Public (Searchable and visible to other Pushee users) or Private (requiring a user to have the Channel's unique URL in order to find the Channel).

Additionally, Channels can be set to be either “Open” or “Exclusive”. An Open Channel can be joined by anyone who finds the Channel through the Pushee app's "Explore" function, or from receiving a copy of the Channel's direct url from another user. An Exclusive Channel requires the express permission of the Channel Owner to join (even if they obtain the Channel's URL). Pushee user’s account information is not public and can only be seen by other users in certain situations. A Channel Owner has the ability to see the account information for every user who has subscribed to (joined) their Channel. Conversely, all members of a Channel can see the account information of the Channel Owner. Keep in mind however that Subscribers to a Channel cannot see the identities of the other Subscribers to the Channel. To protect our user’s privacy Pushee provides no ability for the Public to search our database of users.

A Pushee account’s public profile contains the User’s name and a profile photo. In addition, the account holder has the option to fill out a location (e.g., San Francisco), and a short “About Me” section regarding the account for display on their public profile. Additional private information that is collected by Pushee but not visible to other users contains the account holder’s email address and date of birth, and may also contain gender and mobile telephone number. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information on the data we collect from and about users.

Does Pushee have access to user-generated photos or videos?
Pushee provides photo hosting for image and video uploads as well as Pushee account and Channel profile photos.

Messages containing links to content hosted outside of Pushee (such as links to news stories hosted on outside web platforms, or links to videos hosted on outside video sharing platforms) may be processed to automatically display images related to the original content.

Data Retention Information

Pushee
Pushee retains different types of information for different time periods, and in accordance with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Given Pushee's real-time nature, some information (e.g., IP logs) may only be stored for a very brief period of time. 

Some information we store is automatically collected, while other information is provided at the user’s discretion. Though we do store this information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. For example, the user may have created a fake or anonymous profile. Pushee requires email confirmation in order to create an account; however Pushee doesn’t require real name use or identity authentication. More information on Pushee’s retention policies can be found in our Privacy Policy.

NOTE: Account information and message content which has been deleted by account holders (e.g., Pushee messages and/or accounts) is generally not available.

Preservation Requests

We accept requests from law enforcement to preserve records, which constitute potentially relevant evidence in legal proceedings. If possible we will preserve, but not disclose, a temporary snapshot of the relevant account records for 90 days pending service of valid legal process.

Preservation requests, in accordance with applicable law, should:
• be signed by the requesting official;
• have a valid return official email address; and be sent on law enforcement letterhead;
• include detailed information regarding the User, the Channel(s) and/or individual message(s) in question.
We may honor requests for extensions of preservation requests, but encourage law enforcement agencies to seek records through the appropriate channels in a timely manner, as we cannot guarantee that requested information will be available.

Requests for Pushee account information

Requests for user account information from law enforcement should be directed to admin@pushee.com. Pushee responds to valid legal process issued in compliance with applicable law.

Private information requires a subpoena or court order
Non-public information about Pushee users will not be released to law enforcement except in response to appropriate legal process such as a subpoena, court order, or other valid legal process – or in response to a valid emergency request, as described below.

Contents of communications requires a search warrant
Requests for the contents of communications (e.g., Pushee messages, message comment threads, photos, videos) require a valid search warrant or equivalent from an agency with proper jurisdiction over Pushee.

Will Pushee notify users of requests for account information?
Yes. Pushee's policy is to notify users of requests for their Pushee account information, which includes a copy of the request, as soon as we are able (e.g., prior to or after disclosure of account information) unless we are prohibited from doing so (e.g., an order under 18 U.S.C. § 2705(b)). We ask that any non-disclosure provisions include a specified duration (e.g., 90 days) during which Pushee is prohibited from notifying the user. Exceptions to user notice may include exigent or counterproductive circumstances, such as emergencies regarding imminent threat to life, child sexual exploitation, or terrorism.

What details must be included in account information requests?
Requests for user account information in accordance with applicable law, are required to include the following information:
• Provide details about what specific information is requested (e.g., basic subscriber information) and its relationship to your investigation; [NOTE: Please ensure that the information you seek is not publicly available (e.g., Pushee messages that are not protected). We are unable to process overly broad or vague requests.] 
• Include a valid official email address (e.g., name@agency.gov) so we may get back in touch with you upon receipt of your legal process;
• Be issued on law enforcement letterhead.
Production of records
Unless otherwise agreed upon, we will provide responsive records in electronic format.

Cost reimbursement
Pushee may seek reimbursement for costs associated with information produced pursuant to legal process and as permitted by law (e.g. under 18 U.S.C. §2706).

Emergency disclosure request

In line with our Privacy Policy, we may disclose account information to law enforcement in response to a valid emergency disclosure request.

Pushee evaluates emergency disclosure requests on a case-by-case basis in compliance with relevant law (e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 2702(b)(8). If we receive information that provides us with a good faith belief that there is an exigent emergency involving the danger of death or serious physical injury to a person, we may provide information necessary to prevent that harm, if we have it.

How to make an emergency disclosure request

If there is an exigent emergency that involves the danger of death or serious physical injury to a person that Pushee may have information necessary to prevent, law enforcement officers can submit an emergency disclosure request. Please include all of the following information:
• Indication on your cover sheet, which must be on law enforcement letterhead, that you're submitting an Emergency Disclosure Request;
• Identity of the person who is in danger of death or serious physical injury;
• The nature of the emergency (e.g., report of suicide, bomb threat);
• Any specific messages (identified by message links) you would like us to review;
• The specific information requested and why that information is necessary to prevent the emergency;
• The signature of the submitting law enforcement officer; and
• All other available details or context regarding the particular circumstances.

Content removal requests

How to request a terms of service review
If you are a law enforcement agent or government official and would like to have potentially illegal content removed from Pushee for violating local law(s), please first review the Pushee Rules and, if applicable, submit a request to have the content reviewed for possible violations of our Terms of Service. Reporting possible violations of our Terms of Service will ensure that your request is routed to the appropriate team and processed expeditiously.

How to submit a legal request to withhold content
Along with identifying the specific Pushee Channel(s), message(s) or account(s) at issue, please identify the local laws that are deemed to have been violated by the reported content. If you have a court order or other relevant legal documentation, please attach a copy when submitting your request. Please also provide any other potentially helpful context, which will assist in expediting the review of your request. We also require an official government or law enforcement email address (e.g., name@agency.gov) so we may get back in touch with you if necessary. We will process your request as soon as possible.

Pushee will promptly notify affected users about legal requests to withhold content, including a copy of the original request, unless we are prohibited from doing so. If you believe Pushee is prohibited from noticing the user, please state the reason in your request, including citation to relevant law (if applicable), and/or provide any documents supporting this prohibition. You may provide a redacted copy of your request with personal information removed for notice purposes.

Other issues
Most issues can be resolved by having Pushee account holders submit inquiries directly to us through the Pushee app's "Report" feature.

Where to submit requests

All legal requests, including preservations, requests for account information (routine and emergency), and content removal requests may be submitted via email to legal@pushee.com

Receipt of correspondence by any means is for convenience only and does not waive any objections, including the lack of jurisdiction or proper service.

Revised May 1st, 2019