Texting Website: Info request

[scotty2004]

Hello, I own a website that allows users to send anonymous text messages. Users can sign up, buy credits and send text messages to mobile phones anonymously as well as set (fake) the sender of the SMS message. I am based in the UK but the site is hosted currently in the USA.

I have now received a request from a USA police department saying my website has been used by someone to send harassing text messages and they would like me to supply the message sender's IP address. How do I proceed? Can I just supply this information to them? are there certain steps i should follow? For instance i dont even know if the person requesting the information really is a police officer!

All users have agreed to a TOS stating that we will fully comply and provide such information to police authorities when requested. This is the first instance of such a request so I am unsure how to proceed (data protection act and all) so came here for advise.

 

[MASSEY]

There is a user on here called Sneakmms he operates the same type of site as you might be worth dropping him a pm.

I would imagine you will break data protection laws or something similar by giving out that information.

The fact that they are in the usa will mean they have no jurisdiction, its probably best to tell them to inform uk police and have them contact you regarding the situation that will be a good way to tell if its real or not.

 

[SneakSMS]

I am now in touch with this chap by PM - probably best to keep it away from public view for the moment.

 

[David Griffiths]

I would imagine you will break data protection laws or something similar by giving out that information.

The fact that they are in the usa will mean they have no jurisdiction, its probably best to tell them to inform uk police and have them contact you regarding the situation that will be a good way to tell if its real or not.

It is not a breach of DPA to release information to the police. Link

As far as jurisdiction is concerned, the OP said that the site is hosted in the US, and I suspect that is quite enough to allow their police to get involved. Even without that, the fact that the service will send messages to US phones is likely to be a material factor.

 

[scotty2004]

Just to add I also do not believe the messages were sent using our site because we have sent very few messages to the USA non of which appear harassing!