Lumen Technologies, Inc. Transparency Report
Lumen Technologies, Inc., a global company dedicated to furthering human progress through technology, including telecommunications and internet services, publishes our Transparency Reports semiannually to share data to show how various actions of governments and corporations can affect the privacy and security of our customers’ personal information.
Lumen’s Transparency Reports disclose the number and category of legal demands for customer information made by federal, state and local governments in the United States, including requests made by National Security agencies and requests for information made under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Because we receive so few FISA and National Security demands, these two categories are combined in our Transparency Reports and we will provide this information in bands of 0‑249, consistent with federal law.
Lumen is legally obligated to respond to lawful requests for customer information by government agencies, but we are also committed to protecting our customer’s privacy. Lumen carefully reviews every demand for customer data before providing that information to the government. We make sure the demand is appropriately limited to the government’s need and make sure our response is narrowly tailored to meet this need.
Lumen makes Transparency Report data available to the public to open a dialogue about government demands for customer information and surveillance programs. The goal of our Transparency Report is to demonstrate to interested parties that Lumen is committed to safeguarding our customers’ privacy to the best of our ability while also meeting the legitimate legal needs of government and National Security.
Transparency Report FAQs
1. Why did Lumen decide to issue a transparency report, did something change?
Lumen issued this semi‑annual transparency report to demonstrate to interested parties that we are committed to safeguarding our customers’ privacy to the best of our ability while also meeting the legitimate legal needs of the U.S. government and national security demands.
Following recent changes in European data protection laws, the European Data Protection Board determined that regular publication of transparency reports is considered a “supplemental measure” that may help mitigate against concerns regarding U.S. government surveillance laws and practices. We determined that in addition to the report being considered a supplemental measure, it would be in our customers’ best interest to have access to transparency reports outlining the types of law enforcement demands Lumen receives. These reports demonstrate the low level of demands that Lumen receives, particularly when referencing national security inquiries through Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and National Security Letters.
2. Why is it limited to U.S. only?
U.S. state and local law enforcement are the primary source of law enforcement demands and the vast majority of those demands are targeted at mass market customers in the U.S.
3. When will you report on all countries where Lumen does business?
Lumen will continue to evaluate the benefits of reporting on other countries and will expand the report when we believe there is a sufficient need.
4. Will you notify me when you receive an inquiry for my data so I can determine if the request is legitimate and take appropriate actions?
Lumen takes legal demands for customer information seriously and prefers to provide notice to the customer when we receive a legal demand. However, in most instances, law enforcement requires us not to notify the target of the legal demand, so unfortunately, we cannot legally provide notice to the customer.
5. How does Lumen decide if a request for my data is legitimate?
Lumen takes great care in reviewing each legal demand for data before providing a response to the requesting agency. We have a team that carefully reviews each demand for legality, accuracy, scope, and validity, including whether the demand is appropriately limited to obtain only the information necessary to meet the government agency’s need. If our team determines that a demand is legally invalid, overly broad, inappropriate or seeks information outside the limitations of the type of demand, we will reject the legal demand or ask for further clarification. There are instances where we cannot produce the data even when we have received a valid request. For example, we may receive a demand for data that we do not possess, did not receive or collect, or no longer maintain due to data retention limitations. Lumen works closely and has developed good relationships with government agencies that can aid in this process.
6. Is your process in compliance with my customer contract?
Lumen’s process complies with our customer contracts and our privacy policy. Lumen is under a legal duty to respond to lawful demands from government agencies. Because we are also greatly concerned with protecting the privacy of our customers, we take great care in reviewing each legal demand for data before providing a response to the requesting agency.
7. How can I be sure that Lumen is protecting my data?
Lumen follows the law in responding to lawful demands from government agencies. We take great care with how we manage this process and work hard to protect the privacy of our customers to the best of our ability.
8. Can I “opt out” of any process that requests my data?
No. If Lumen receives a lawful demand from a government agency, we must respond or be in violation of federal, state and local laws.
9. Can I be informed after you share any of my data with the government?
In general, Lumen prefers to provide notice to the customer upon receipt of a legal demand. But in many instances, law enforcement demands under the law that we not provide notice to the target of the legal demand.
10. What types of data do you share with the government?
Depending on the legal demand, Lumen may share account data such as name, address, email address, telephone number, billing information, IP address, types of services to which the customer subscribes, call detail records, and form of payment. Some legal demands are for “content,” such as email messages, actual telephone conversations (wiretap), and sites visited on the internet.
11. If I have special concerns about confidentiality of my customer data, who can I talk to at Lumen?
Please contact:
12. Why did you choose the categories of reporting, why not be more specific?
There is no standard global or national format for publishing transparency reports. However, companies that do publish a transparency report must comply with the USA Freedom Act of 2015 that mandates how providers publish data about National Security Letters and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act orders. Lumen’s report is based on the specific types of demands we receive and is consistent with the requirements of the USA Freedom Act of 2015.
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