A subpoena is typically needed to gather which of the following from an electronic device?

A subpoena is typically needed to gather which of the following from an electronic device?

• A. Stored data
• B. Content from electronic device
• C. Subscriber information from electronic device
• D. Live monitoring

Answer: (C)

Subpoenas target non-content information tied to a user rather than the actual messages or files. The subscriber information from an electronic device—such as the account holder’s name, address, contact details, and billing information—identifies who owns or uses the device and is typically obtainable from the service provider with a subpoena. This type of data is considered non-content or metadata about the account, which the provider can disclose under subpoena without showing probable cause. In contrast, obtaining the content of communications or data stored on the device generally requires a warrant or court order, and live monitoring requires a wiretap-style order. So, the subpoena is the instrument most commonly used to obtain subscriber information from the device’s associated account.

Subpoenas target non-content information tied to a user rather than the actual messages or files. The subscriber information from an electronic device—such as the account holder’s name, address, contact details, and billing information—identifies who owns or uses the device and is typically obtainable from the service provider with a subpoena. This type of data is considered non-content or metadata about the account, which the provider can disclose under subpoena without showing probable cause. In contrast, obtaining the content of communications or data stored on the device generally requires a warrant or court order, and live monitoring requires a wiretap-style order. So, the subpoena is the instrument most commonly used to obtain subscriber information from the device’s associated account.