Introduction:  Law Enforcement Requests 

Aurora Operations, Inc. (Aurora) is an autonomous vehicle technology company. Aurora’s mission is to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly.

These guidelines outline principles governing Aurora’s standard response to records requests from law enforcement or other government officials. More general information about Aurora’s policies is provided in our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Aurora will only disclose records in response to law enforcement requests that comply with all applicable laws, including those regarding the protection of personal information, and that clearly establish the legal need for disclosure. 

Information Aurora Collects 

Aurora has designed our autonomous vehicle sensing architecture to employ three complementary ways of perceiving the world: cameras (visual imagery), radar (distance and moving detection), and lidar (infrared-based depth mapping).  Aurora uses cameras to see the world much like people do.  Aurora uses radar sensors to build a coarse model of the world by measuring how long it takes for the emitted beam to bounce back from different directions.  And Aurora uses lidar sensors much like radar, but the waves of infra-red light can see the world more crisply.  As Aurora’s vehicles drive through the world, they collect information from these sensors about the area around the vehicle (“sensor data”). Aurora uses this information to aid the development and operation of its autonomous vehicle systems. Aurora does not, in the ordinary course of business, use its sensor data to identify members of the public. 

Aurora’s facilities and properties may be equipped with security (e.g., camera) and access control systems that collect information (“facility information”).

In accordance with our Privacy Policy, Aurora also collects limited amounts of data from individuals’ use of our website and related services (“user data”).  Aurora may collect personal information, such as name and contact information, from users of its website or other services. 

Sensor data, facility information, and user data, and other confidential Aurora business records, constitute non-public information.

Disclosure of Non-Public Information

Aurora will disclose non-public information in accordance with its policies, guidelines, terms of service, and applicable U.S. law, including the federal Stored Communications Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2701-2712. 

Aurora’s standard practice is to comply with law enforcement requests seeking non-public information only after Aurora receives valid and binding compulsory legal process, (e.g., a search warrant or other compulsory order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction (a federal court or a court of general criminal jurisdiction of a State authorized by the law of that State to issue search warrants)) to disclose non-public information described herein. The order must be of sufficient legal scope for the information requested to be disclosed.  

Aurora will respond to requests for disclosure of non-public information from foreign law enforcement agencies only when issued by a U.S. court (such as through a letter rogatory or mutual legal assistance treaty).  

Requirements for Non-Public Information Requests 

All law enforcement requests for non-public information must be related to specific investigations and be reasonably tailored to be relevant in those investigations.  Aurora will only disclose non-public information that Aurora is reasonably able to locate and retrieve.   Aurora will not provide non-public information in response to general, vague, overbroad, or imprecise requests.  

All requests for non-public information should identify the following information:  

1. the requesting official, including a valid law enforcement email address or contact information; 

2. the relevant criminal or civil matter; 

3. the information requested with specificity; 

4. the relationship of that information to the applicable investigation; and 

5. the search warrant or other compulsory order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.  

Requests must come from appropriate government or law enforcement officials; Aurora will not respond to requests from other sources. Aurora will not respond to any law enforcement requests sent electronically from a non-law enforcement email address. 

How to Contact Aurora 

Aurora has offices in the Bay Area, California, Bozeman, MT, Dallas, TX, Detroit, MI, Louisville, CO, Pittsburgh, PA, and Seattle, WA.  Official law enforcement authorities, including courts or government agencies, may email requests to lawenforcement@aurora.tech with the subject “Law Enforcement Action Requested.” Alternatively, requests can be mailed to: Aurora Operations, Inc. Attn: Legal Department, 1654 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.  

Aurora’s receipt of correspondence by these means is for convenience only and does not waive any objections, including lack of jurisdiction or improper service. 

User Notice 

Aurora respects the rights and privacy of members of the public, including users of its website and other services. Unless prohibited by law, Aurora lacks contact information, or there is a clear risk of harm or illegal activity, Aurora’s policy is to notify affected individuals about pending requests for their information, and to provide copies of the legal process documents underlying those requests. In situations where we are prohibited by law from providing notice (e.g., when we receive a non-disclosure order pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2705(b)), or where there are exceptional or exigent circumstances that would render prior notice impracticable, Aurora may elect not to provide user notice before complying with the request, and may provide notice after the fact (e.g., if Aurora is notified that the applicable non-disclosure order has been lifted, Aurora will provide notice). Law enforcement officials who do not want their request to be disclosed must provide an appropriate court order or process establishing that notice is prohibited, or provide sufficient detail for Aurora to determine whether a request falls into one of the exceptions above. 

Preservation Requests 

Aurora will preserve relevant records, to the extent they are available, for 90 days upon receipt of a valid preservation request issued in accordance with applicable law. This period can be extended for one additional 90-day period upon receipt of a renewed request. Preservation requests must comply with the general requirements (a) through (e) for requests of non-public information, as outlined above.

Emergency Requests 

If Aurora reasonably believes it can prevent death or serious physical injury, it may provide non-public information to law enforcement. In circumstances where law enforcement seeks non-public information to assist in the handling of an emergency or exigent situation involving an imminent risk of death or serious physical injury to any person, and Aurora may have information necessary to prevent the harm, officials can submit an emergency disclosure request to lawenforcement@aurora.tech with the subject line “EMERGENCY DISCLOSURE REQUEST.” Such requests should include all of the following:

1. Identity of the individual in danger of death or serious physical injury; 

2. Nature of the emergency; 

3. Specific information necessary to prevent the emergency;

4. Why that information is necessary to prevent the emergency; and 

5. Any other relevant details or context regarding the particular circumstances. 

Such requests must be made in writing on official law enforcement letterhead or via an official law enforcement email address and if required by law, followed-up with sufficient legal process. Non-law enforcement individuals aware of an emergency situation should contact local law enforcement officials for assistance. 

Matters Involving Child Safety 

Aurora reports any apparent instances of child exploitation it discovers to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), including information brought to our attention by government requests. If a law enforcement request relates to a child exploitation or safety matter, those circumstances should be specified in the request (and include any NCMEC report information, if applicable) to ensure that appropriate action is taken as quickly as possible. 

Cost Reimbursement 

Aurora may seek reasonable reimbursement costs for responding to law enforcement requests for non-public information as permissible by law.