What is a National Security Letter?

• A. A demand letter issued to a specific entity to turn over records related to individuals
• B. A formal court order for surveillance
• C. An internal memo within an agency
• D. A public notice of policy change

Answer: (A)

An NSL is an administrative demand used by federal agencies to compel a specific company or institution to turn over certain records about a person or account, without needing a traditional court order. It targets the data held by a named entity and seeks information relevant to an investigation, such as subscriber details, usage or financial records, or other transactional data. Recipients often must keep the NSL and its existence confidential under a nondisclosure requirement, with penalties for disclosure or noncompliance. This makes an NSL distinct from a formal court surveillance order, a public policy notice, or an internal memo.