Google Transparency Report 2012 List Data removal User access request made by governments

Google  Transparency Report  2012  List Data removal User access request made by governments

According to Google Governments around the world made nearly 21,000 requests for access to Google data in the first six months of this year.

Google is publishing its Transparency Report twice a year since 2009 and has seen a steady rise in government demands for data. In its first report in 2009, it received 12,539 requests. The latest figure stands at more than 20,000.

Google in a blog post  wrote that

Like other technology and communications companies, Google regularly receives requests from government agencies and courts around the world to remove content from our services.

In this report, we disclose the number of requests that we receive from each government in six-month periods with certain limitations.

Governments ask companies to remove content for many different reasons. For example, some content removals are requested due to allegations of defamation, while others are due to allegations that the content violates local laws prohibiting hate speech or pornography.

Laws surrounding these issues vary by country, and the requests reflect the legal context of a given jurisdiction. We hope that this tool will be helpful in discussions about the appropriate scope and authority of government requests.

REQUESTS FOR USERS' DATA by Top 5 Governments Countries

Time Period  - January to June 2012

1)  
United States - 7,969

2)  
India - 2,319

3)  
Brazil - 1,566

4)  
France - 1,546

5)  
Germany - 1,533

6)  
UK - 1,425

REQUESTS FOR TAKE-DOWNS by Top 5 Countries

Time Period - January to June 2012

1)  
Turkey - 501

2)  
United States - 273

3)  
Germany - 247

4)  
Brazil - 191

5)  
UK – 97

Notable Observations – January to June 2012

1.
Australia –
Google received a request from a state government agency to remove a YouTube video of statements made against members of law enforcement. Google  did not remove content in response to this request.

2.
China-
Google received a request from a provincial land bureau to remove a search result for linking to a site that allegedly defames a government official. Google did not remove content in response to this request.

3.
India –
In response to a court order,  removed 360 search results.
The search results linked to 360 web pages that contained adult videos that allegedly violated an individual's personal privacy.

4.
Philippines –

Google received a request from the office of a local mayor to remove five blogs for criticizing the mayor.
Google did not remove content in response to this request.

5.
United Kingdom –
Google received a request from a local law enforcement agency to remove 14 search results for linking to sites that criticize the police and claim individuals were involved in obscuring crimes.
It did not remove content in response to this request.
In addition, received a request from another local law enforcement agency to remove a YouTube video for criticizing the agency of racism.
Google did not remove content in response to this request.
The number of content removal requests  Google received increased by 98% compared to the previous reporting period.

6.
United States –
Google in  a blog post said that

We received five requests and one court order to remove seven YouTube videos for criticizing local and state government agencies, law enforcement, or public officials. We did not remove content in response to these requests.

We received a court order to remove 1,754 posts from Google Groups relating to a case of continuous defamation against a man and his family. We removed 1,664 of the posts, which fell within the scope of the order.

We received three court orders to remove 641 search results for linking to websites that allegedly defame organizations and individuals.
We removed 233 of the search results requested, which fell within the scope of the orders.

In response to a court order, we removed 156 search results because the web pages in question used a trademark in violation of an earlier order.

The number of content removal requests we received increased by 46% compared to the previous reporting period.




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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Tags – Google Transparency Report 2012