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Snapchat is unlike any other social media app, with its photos disappearing after only a few seconds. And given all of its fun features, like the goofy selfies, real-time life updates and dog filters, it's easy to get carried away with the photo-sharing platform.
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But what do you do when you want to take a break from Snapchat? Or even delete your Snapchat account?
Whether you're deleting Snapchat in favor of Instagram Stories, because you hate the Snap Map feature, or simply because you don't like it, it only takes a few minutes to delete or deactivate your account.
Snapchat's website explains, 'While your account is deactivated, your friends will not be able to contact or interact with you on Snapchat. After 30 days, your account will be permanently deleted. This means that your account, account settings, friends, Snaps, Chats, Story, device data, and location data in our main user database will be deleted.'
How to delete Snapchat
- 1. Go to Snapchat's account portal (https://accounts.snapchat.com/accounts/delete_account).
This page can also be accessed by going to Snapchat.com, scrolling to the bottom of the page and selecting 'Support.' Then go to 'My Account & Security' and click 'Account Information.' Finally, select 'Delete An Account.'
- 2. Enter your username and password.
- 3. Enter the security code sent to the phone number linked to the account and click 'Submit.'
- 4. Enter your username and password again. Then, click 'Continue' and your account will be deactivated.
Want to reactive the account? Just log in within 30 days and everything will be completely restored. (You will not be able to change your password after deactivation, so make sure to remember it in case you want to reactive the account.)
Trying to detox from social media entirely? Follow our step-by-step guides to deleting Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
These operational guidelines are provided for law enforcement and governmental officials who are seeking to request Snapchat account records (i.e., Snapchat user data) from Snap Inc.
Many questions relating to law enforcement requests are answered in our Law Enforcement Guide. There you'll find details regarding possible availability of Snapchat account records, and the type of legal process required to compel disclosure of that data.
U.S. Legal Process
As a U.S. company, Snap requires U.S. law enforcement and governmental agencies to follow U.S. law in order for Snap to disclose any Snapchat account records.
Our ability to disclose Snapchat account records is generally governed by the Stored Communications Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2701, et seq. The SCA mandates that we disclose certain Snapchat account records only in response to specific types of legal process, including subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants.
International Legal Process
Non-U.S. law enforcement and governmental agencies generally must rely on the mechanics of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty or letters rogatory processes to request Snapchat account records from Snap. As a courtesy to non-U.S. law enforcement, we will review and respond to properly submitted preservation requests while the MLAT or letters rogatory process is undertaken.
Emergency Disclosure Requests
Consistent with 18 U.S.C. §§ 2702(b)(8) and 2702(c)(4), we are able to voluntarily disclose Snapchat account records when we believe in good faith that an emergency posing a threat of imminent death or serious bodily injury requires the immediate disclosure of such records.
Information for law enforcement regarding how to submit Emergency Disclosure Requests to Snap can be found in our Law Enforcement Guide. Emergency Disclosure Requests to Snap must be submitted by a sworn law enforcement official and must come from an official law enforcement (or governmental) email domain.
Data Retention Periods
Snapchat Fake Login Page
Generally, once a Snap has been opened by all recipients, the content is permanently deleted and unavailable. If a Snap is unopened by one or more recipients, it may remain on our servers for up to 30 days. A Snap that has been posted to a user's Story can be viewed for up to 24 hours. Typically, the posted Snap is permanently deleted and unavailable 24 hours after being posted to their Story. Chat content will typically only be available if the sender or recipient has chosen to save the Chat. Memories content may be available until deleted by a user.
Preservation Requests
Trying to detox from social media entirely? Follow our step-by-step guides to deleting Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
These operational guidelines are provided for law enforcement and governmental officials who are seeking to request Snapchat account records (i.e., Snapchat user data) from Snap Inc.
Many questions relating to law enforcement requests are answered in our Law Enforcement Guide. There you'll find details regarding possible availability of Snapchat account records, and the type of legal process required to compel disclosure of that data.
U.S. Legal Process
As a U.S. company, Snap requires U.S. law enforcement and governmental agencies to follow U.S. law in order for Snap to disclose any Snapchat account records.
Our ability to disclose Snapchat account records is generally governed by the Stored Communications Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2701, et seq. The SCA mandates that we disclose certain Snapchat account records only in response to specific types of legal process, including subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants.
International Legal Process
Non-U.S. law enforcement and governmental agencies generally must rely on the mechanics of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty or letters rogatory processes to request Snapchat account records from Snap. As a courtesy to non-U.S. law enforcement, we will review and respond to properly submitted preservation requests while the MLAT or letters rogatory process is undertaken.
Emergency Disclosure Requests
Consistent with 18 U.S.C. §§ 2702(b)(8) and 2702(c)(4), we are able to voluntarily disclose Snapchat account records when we believe in good faith that an emergency posing a threat of imminent death or serious bodily injury requires the immediate disclosure of such records.
Information for law enforcement regarding how to submit Emergency Disclosure Requests to Snap can be found in our Law Enforcement Guide. Emergency Disclosure Requests to Snap must be submitted by a sworn law enforcement official and must come from an official law enforcement (or governmental) email domain.
Data Retention Periods
Snapchat Fake Login Page
Generally, once a Snap has been opened by all recipients, the content is permanently deleted and unavailable. If a Snap is unopened by one or more recipients, it may remain on our servers for up to 30 days. A Snap that has been posted to a user's Story can be viewed for up to 24 hours. Typically, the posted Snap is permanently deleted and unavailable 24 hours after being posted to their Story. Chat content will typically only be available if the sender or recipient has chosen to save the Chat. Memories content may be available until deleted by a user.
Preservation Requests
We honor formal requests from law enforcement to preserve information in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 2703(f). Upon receiving a signed and dated preservation request on law enforcement department letterhead, we will attempt to preserve available Snapchat account records associated with any properly identified Snapchat user(s) in an offline file for up to 90 days, and will extend the preservation for one additional 90-day period with a formal extension request. Please see Section IV of our Law Enforcement Guide for more information on accurately locating a Snapchat account.
Child Safety Concerns
In instances where we're made aware of potential child exploitation content on our platform, our Trust & Safety team reviews the allegations and, if appropriate, reports such situations to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. NCMEC will then review those reports and coordinate with both domestic and international law enforcement agencies.
User Consent
Snap does not disclose user data based on user consent.
User Notice Policy
Snap's policy is to notify our users when we receive legal process seeking disclosure of their records. We recognize two exceptions to this policy. First, we will not notify users of legal process where providing notice is prohibited by a court order issued under 18 U.S.C. § 2705(b) or by other legal authority. Second, where we, in our sole discretion, believe an exceptional circumstance exists — such as cases involving child exploitation or the threat of imminent death or serious bodily injury — we reserve the right to forgo user notice.
Testimony
Records disclosures made to U.S. law enforcement will be accompanied by a signed Certificate of Authenticity, which should eliminate the need for the testimony of a Custodian of Records.
Snap does not provide expert witness testimony.
Log Into Snapchat On Laptop
How to Submit Requests
Law enforcement officials must address their requests to Snap Inc. Please be sure to identify the Snapchat username of the requested Snapchat account. If you are unable to locate a username, we can try — with varying degrees of success — to locate the account with a phone number or email address. Please see Section IV of our Law Enforcement Guide for more information on accurately locating a Snapchat account.
U.S. law enforcement and governmental agencies should submit legal process (including preservation requests) to Snap via Snap's Law Enforcement Service Site: less.snapchat.com.
From there, U.S. law enforcement and governmental agencies can create an account for the purpose of submitting requests and checking the status of submissions.
We also accept service of legal process and general questions from law enforcement via email or mail, although our response time will be significantly slower.
Email:
Mail:
Custodian of RecordsSnap Inc.2772 Donald Douglas Loop NorthSanta Monica, CA 90405
Receipt of law enforcement requests by these means is for convenience only and does not waive any objections or legal rights of Snap or its users. We will not respond to correspondence from non-law enforcement or non-governmental officials submitted through the channels described above.
