Facebook hands over private chats to US police, even sans warrant (2020)

https://www.facebook.com/records

I can confirm first-hand that Facebook will reveal your private messages to the police when an "emergency" is declared, without needing a warrant and without verification of the grounds for the request. I don't use Facebook anymore, and I don't touch any of Meta's services.

Even the linked post says:

> In most cases, law enforcement sends Facebook a search warrant or a government-issued subpoena for data. But Facebook policy also allows for “emergency requests,” where the tech giant will voluntarily hand over data outside of the legal process when police claim a case involves death or “potential bodily harm.”

So, it is unlikely that Facebook/Meta is just sharing your chat history over without just cause.

Regardless, you should be using Signal or WhatsApp for your chats anyways.

Police should be required to have a warrant to access personal information, whether it's through a 3rd party or not. It's required for phones, why not every other source?

Grumble grumble, old man shouts at clouds, etc