Google & Gmail Law Enforcement Data Request (LERS): Police & Government Guide
How police use Google's LERS portal at lers.google.com: register your agency, the subpoena, court-order and warrant ladder, preservation, and emergencies.
Google and Gmail account investigations are handled through Google’s Law Enforcement Request System (LERS) at lers.google.com, operated by Google LLC. This is a guide for authorised U.S. and international investigators covering preservation, records requests, and emergency disclosure for Gmail, Drive, Photos, and other Google services.
- Portal: lers.google.com (the Law Enforcement Request System)
- Get registered first: agencies not yet approved email [email protected] to request LERS access
- The legal-process ladder: a subpoena gets basic subscriber info + IP; a 2703(d) court order adds non-content email headers (To/From/Cc/Bcc, timestamps); a search warrant is required for content (Gmail messages, Drive, Photos)
- Emergency: submit an Emergency Disclosure Request through your LERS account for imminent risk of death or serious physical injury
Before you start
- An official government / law-enforcement email domain (personal emails are rejected).
- Your LERS account — if your agency is not yet approved, email [email protected] to register before you can submit.
- The target’s Google account identifier (Gmail address or account email).
- Your legal process (subpoena, 18 U.S.C. § 2703(d) order, or search warrant) attached as a PDF.
What Google can disclose, by legal process
| Legal process | What Google may disclose |
|---|---|
| Subpoena | Basic subscriber registration information and certain IP addresses. |
| Court order (18 U.S.C. § 2703(d)) | The above, plus non-content email header records — To, From, Cc, Bcc and timestamps. |
| Search warrant | Content — Gmail message bodies, Drive documents, and Photos. |
Google also accepts legal process by mail, fax, email and in person, but the LERS portal is the preferred and fastest route. Non-U.S. authorities generally use an MLAT or letters rogatory for content.
Preservation requests
Under 18 U.S.C. § 2703(f), Google will preserve the data it holds at the time of the request for an initial 90 days, extendable once for a further 90 days on a renewed request. Preservation captures only data that exists when the request is received — it does not collect prospective data — so serve it early, then obtain legal process to actually disclose the records.
Emergency Disclosure Requests
Where there is a reasonable belief of an imminent risk of death or serious physical injury (e.g., bomb threats, kidnapping, missing persons, suicide), submit an Emergency Disclosure Request through your LERS account. Google evaluates each case and may voluntarily disclose the information necessary to prevent the harm.
Will the user be told?
Assume yes. Google’s policy is to notify the user of a request unless prohibited by law or a court order, or where notice would be counterproductive (risk of harm, evidence destruction). State explicitly if you need a non-disclosure order honoured.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Google law enforcement portal? The Law Enforcement Request System (LERS) at lers.google.com — Google’s online intake for authorised legal requests.
Do I need a warrant for Gmail content? Yes. Message content, Drive files and Photos require a search warrant; a subpoena or 2703(d) order only reaches subscriber and non-content header data.
How do I get access to LERS? If your agency is not already approved, email [email protected] from your official law-enforcement domain to request registration.
See also
- Overview: law-enforcement data-request portals across all platforms
- What is LERS? Law-Enforcement Response Systems, explained