The issue focused on what law enforcement officials would do in the event of a federal request to check police activity. The Justice Department has said that it will not provide law enforcement access to social media information if it is connected to criminal activity.

Tied up in court was whether law enforcement could legally view information about political activities and financial transactions. On Monday, two senior federal law enforcement officials told reporters that they were trying to clear up some legal questions by providing specific details on how such records are protected.

