# obtaining FBI files on indivuals? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 31, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-fbi-files-on-indivuals/210735 "2003-10-31T21:53:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hansolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/22d042/32.png) [@hansolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hansolo)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-fbi-files-on-indivuals/210735/1 "2003-10-31T21:53:40Z")
say my girlfriend , or my best friend thinks that the FBI has a file on them because of activism groups they were invovled with, can i write to the FBI and request the file on them under the freedom of information act? if so, what happens if they have a file and the FBI tells me they dont have a file, but then they go to court later on and the FBI drops in with a file on them even though they told me they didnt have one? ---
**Author:** ![Dreaming\_of\_Maria\_Callas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@Dreaming\_of\_Maria\_Callas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dreaming_of_Maria_Callas)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-fbi-files-on-indivuals/210735/2 "2003-11-01T15:08:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hansolo \* > **say my girlfriend , or my best friend thinks that the FBI has a file on them because of activism groups they were invovled with, can i write to the FBI and request the file on them under the freedom of information act?** Anything in the file that would be interesting would probably be Privacy Act-sensitive and thus not for your eyes. Why don’t you let them write the FOIA request themselves? Your questions as it is makes it appear as if you want to violate someone’s privacy. > [@](#): > > \*\*if so, what happens if they have a file and the FBI tells me they dont have a file, but then they go to court later on and the FBI drops in with a file on them even though they told me they didnt have one? \*\* You see very confused. UnuMondo ---
**Author:** ![Blueapple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Blueapple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blueapple)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obtaining-fbi-files-on-indivuals/210735/3 "2003-11-01T16:43:00Z")
> **[Freedom of Information/Privacy Act | Federal Bureau of Investigation](https://www.fbi.gov/services/information-management/foipa)** > > Specific FBI records can be requested through both the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, and the Privacy Act. That might help in your search.