How Police in Japan Request Data from WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook
Authorised police and government officials in Japan can send preservation, emergency and records requests directly to Meta through its law-enforcement portals. For the content of messages, Meta says a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) request or letter rogatory may be required. Japan has a bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty with the US in force since July 21, 2006, which is the usual channel when content is needed.
Japan at a glance
| US mutual legal assistance treaty | In force since July 21, 2006Treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, with attachment and related exchange of notes Source |
|---|---|
| US CLOUD Act agreement | None Source |
| Budapest Convention on Cybercrime | Party (in force for it since 1 November 2012) Source |
| Requests to Meta (Jul - Dec 2025) | 1,396 total: 279 legal process, 1,117 emergency; some data produced in 79.73% Source |
How to make the request
- Preserve first. Send a preservation request so the account data is kept while legal process is prepared; Meta preserves records for 90 days pending formal process.
- Use the official portals with an official government email. Facebook and Instagram: Meta’s Law Enforcement Online Request System (facebook.com/records). WhatsApp: whatsapp.com/records. Step-by-step: our Facebook & Instagram and WhatsApp portal guides.
- Attach valid legal process under Japan’s law for records requests, and identify the account precisely (username, profile URL, phone number with country code).
- Emergencies: where there is imminent harm to a child or a risk of death or serious physical injury, use the portal’s emergency request route.
- Content: Japan has a bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty with the US in force since July 21, 2006, which is the usual channel when content is needed. When to use which channel: MLAT vs LERS vs Interpol.
Meta’s guidelines: “A Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty request or letter rogatory may be required to compel the disclosure of the contents of an account.” Source
Legal notes for Japan
- Japan has ratified the Second Additional Protocol to the Budapest Convention on enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence (CETS 224; signed 12/05/2022, ratified 10/08/2023). The Protocol is not yet in force (requires 5 ratifications; CoE chart shows 4). Source
- Meta's latest Japan figures are dominated by emergency disclosure requests (1,117 of 1,396 in Jul-Dec 2025). Source
Cybercrime unit in Japan
Cyber Affairs Bureau and Cyber Special Investigation Unit (National Police Agency). See cybercrime agencies in Japan.
Treaty and request figures checked against the US State Department’s Treaties in Force, the US Department of Justice, the Council of Europe treaty office and Meta’s Transparency Center on 12 October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice. Other platforms: the platform-by-platform LERS guide; every country: police data requests by country.