Coinbase · Coinbase Privacy Policy

Law Enforcement Disclosure Without User Notification

High severity
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What it is

We may share your information with law enforcement, government officials, or other third parties when we are compelled to do so by a subpoena, court order, or similar legal procedure, or when we believe in good faith that the disclosure of personal information is necessary to prevent physical harm or financial loss, to report suspected illegal activity, or to investigate violations of our User Agreement.

Why it matters

The 'good faith belief' standard for voluntary disclosure — beyond legally compelled process — means Coinbase can share your data with authorities proactively without a court order and without notifying you, which has significant implications for financial privacy.

Consumer impact

Coinbase collects highly sensitive personal data including government-issued ID, financial account information, transaction history, biometric identifiers, and behavioral data, and shares this information with a broad ecosystem of third parties including advertising networks, blockchain analytics companies, and law enforcement agencies. Users have limited ability to restrict data collection as most categories are deemed necessary to provide services or comply with legal obligations, meaning opting out effectively requires closing the account. You can submit requests to access, delete, or export your personal data through Coinbase's privacy rights portal at privacy.coinbase.com.

Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has authority to investigate whether voluntary law enforcement disclosure practices constitute unfair or deceptive trade practices under FTC Act Section 5, particularly if the policy does not adequately disclose the scope of voluntary disclosures.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    State attorneys general may have authority over law enforcement disclosure practices that implicate state-level financial privacy or consumer protection statutes.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Coinbase Privacy Policy
Entity
Coinbase
Document last updated
March 24, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
April 3, 2026
Last verified
April 4, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-002039
Document ID
CA-D-00048
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
SHA-256
e2d4eaa6ef636c27b1f2eeda89403a21fabbd0722c16e0f34e9c2f754985ff07
Verified
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Change verified
How to Cite
ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Coinbase | Document: Coinbase Privacy Policy | Record: CA-P-002039
Captured: 2026-04-03 08:57:19 UTC | SHA-256: e2d4eaa6ef636c27…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/coinbase/coinbase-privacy-policy/law-enforcement-disclosure-without-user-notification/
Accessed: April 4, 2026
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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