Colorado Bill Aims to Speed Up Social Media Warrant Compliance

Grieving parents push for new law to force faster response from tech companies in criminal cases

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A new Colorado bill would require social media and online dating companies with over 1 million users to confirm receipt of a judicial warrant within 8 hours and comply with it within 72 hours. The measure is in response to concerns from parents that some tech firms take weeks or months to respond to law enforcement warrants, even in cases where a child's life is at risk.

Why it matters

This bill is part of a broader effort by lawmakers to increase accountability for social media companies and force faster cooperation with law enforcement in criminal investigations. Grieving parents argue that delays in accessing critical evidence on social media platforms have allowed drug dealers and other criminals to continue operating, leading to additional deaths.

The details

The bill, introduced by Republican state Sen. Lisa Frizell and Democratic state Sen. Dylan Roberts, would apply to social media and online dating companies with at least 1 million users. It would require them to confirm receipt of a judicial warrant within 8 hours and comply with it within 72 hours. Parents testified that some companies currently take weeks or even months to respond to warrants, allowing criminal activity to continue in the meantime. The bill also mandates that these companies maintain a 24/7 hotline for law enforcement.

  • The Colorado Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the measure.
  • The bill now heads to the full state Senate for debate.

The players

Lisa Frizell

Republican state senator who co-introduced the bill.

Dylan Roberts

Democratic state senator who co-introduced the bill.

Kim Osterman

Parent who testified about her 18-year-old son's death after buying fentanyl through Snapchat, where police faced long delays in obtaining information.

Andrew Sidley-Mackie

Colorado criminal defense attorney who testified in opposition to the bill, arguing companies need more time to protect user privacy.

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What they’re saying

“They purge their information quickly. The only reason the information was even there is because (those companies) received the request to preserve the records.”

— Kim Osterman, Parent (CBS Colorado)

“In this small minority of cases where there really is a need for a fast response to a production order, there's nothing preventing law enforcement from explaining that need to a judge, and getting a special order for that fast response.”

— Andrew Sidley-Mackie, Colorado criminal defense attorney (CBS Colorado)

What’s next

The bill will now be debated by the full Colorado Senate.

The takeaway

This legislation reflects growing frustration with social media companies' slow response times to law enforcement warrants, which parents argue has allowed criminal activity to continue unabated. The bill aims to force faster compliance, but faces concerns about protecting user privacy.