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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Google transparency report 2013: find out what the world's governments want to know about you | Google transparency report 2013: find out what the world's governments want to know about you |
| (5 months later) | |
| More and more governments around the world are either asking Google to remove content - or tell them who its users are. | More and more governments around the world are either asking Google to remove content - or tell them who its users are. |
| Google's transparency report is the guide to how the governments of the world are interacting with the web giant in 2012. And it's an alarming picture. | Google's transparency report is the guide to how the governments of the world are interacting with the web giant in 2012. And it's an alarming picture. |
| The report covers two types of requests: | The report covers two types of requests: |
| • Government requests to remove content from Google • Government requests from around the world to hand over user data | • Government requests to remove content from Google • Government requests from around the world to hand over user data |
| The is is how those numbers break down. | The is is how those numbers break down. |
| The latest report, which covers up to the end of last year, shows that in 2012 there were 21,389 inquiries from governments around the world. Those requests were for information about 33,634 accounts - these are users' accounts. | The latest report, which covers up to the end of last year, shows that in 2012 there were 21,389 inquiries from governments around the world. Those requests were for information about 33,634 accounts - these are users' accounts. |
| The number of government requests to remove content from Google's services was largely flat from 2009 to 2011. But the latest data shows that the huge spike witnessed in the first half of 2012 (when the number of government requests were up by 72%), continued in the 6 months that followed, albeit slightly slower (requests were up 26%). There were 2,285 requests from government officials around the world to remove 24,179 pieces of content. | The number of government requests to remove content from Google's services was largely flat from 2009 to 2011. But the latest data shows that the huge spike witnessed in the first half of 2012 (when the number of government requests were up by 72%), continued in the 6 months that followed, albeit slightly slower (requests were up 26%). There were 2,285 requests from government officials around the world to remove 24,179 pieces of content. |
| 31% of governments claimed that their request was motivated by a belief that the content resulted in 'defamation', while 5% cited 'privacy and security'. A few controversial items on Google attracted a significant amount of government concern in the last half of 2012. For example, the movie "Innocence of Muslims" resulted in inquiries from 20 countries and removal requests from 17. The film was restricted in a further 8 countries and temporarily restricted in 2 due to 'difficult circumstances'. You can find out where it caused concern in the table below. | 31% of governments claimed that their request was motivated by a belief that the content resulted in 'defamation', while 5% cited 'privacy and security'. A few controversial items on Google attracted a significant amount of government concern in the last half of 2012. For example, the movie "Innocence of Muslims" resulted in inquiries from 20 countries and removal requests from 17. The film was restricted in a further 8 countries and temporarily restricted in 2 due to 'difficult circumstances'. You can find out where it caused concern in the table below. |
| Innocence of Muslims | Innocence of Muslims |
| Government requests to Google | Government requests to Google |
| Although China's 'Great Firewall' attracts much attention, Google products have been inaccessible to the population of several countries. In Morocco Google Earth isn't available while in Turkey Google's blogger service isn't accessible. YouTube is not available in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran or Pakistan. Perhaps most worryingly, all Google products have been suspended in Syria since December 2012. | Although China's 'Great Firewall' attracts much attention, Google products have been inaccessible to the population of several countries. In Morocco Google Earth isn't available while in Turkey Google's blogger service isn't accessible. YouTube is not available in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran or Pakistan. Perhaps most worryingly, all Google products have been suspended in Syria since December 2012. |
| In the UK, content removals were up by 6% and included a request from what must be a local police force to "remove a YouTube video that allegedly defamed them by artificially portraying a member of the agency in a racist uniform" and another "that was critical of police practices". Google turned both requests down. | In the UK, content removals were up by 6% and included a request from what must be a local police force to "remove a YouTube video that allegedly defamed them by artificially portraying a member of the agency in a racist uniform" and another "that was critical of police practices". Google turned both requests down. |
| In another case, an MP requested that Google "remove a blog post for suggesting that he advised businesses while serving in government". The company did not feel that it was able to adjudicate on this and so, with the MPs consent, passed the complain to the blogger. The content subsequently disappeared though Google claims it did not remove it. | In another case, an MP requested that Google "remove a blog post for suggesting that he advised businesses while serving in government". The company did not feel that it was able to adjudicate on this and so, with the MPs consent, passed the complain to the blogger. The content subsequently disappeared though Google claims it did not remove it. |
| This is how UK requests look, largely dominated by YouTube. The biggest change can be seen in requests relating to Google AdWords, just 45 in the second half of 2012, down from 2,865. This was largely because of the UK's Office of Fair Trading requesting the removal of 93,360 fraudulent Google Adwords linked to scams over the period. | This is how UK requests look, largely dominated by YouTube. The biggest change can be seen in requests relating to Google AdWords, just 45 in the second half of 2012, down from 2,865. This was largely because of the UK's Office of Fair Trading requesting the removal of 93,360 fraudulent Google Adwords linked to scams over the period. |
| In the US it looks a little different: | In the US it looks a little different: |
| Content removal requests were up by 18% in the US in July to December 2012 compared to the previous 6 months. Google received court orders from several different individuals. In some cases, a single court order resulted in a large response - for example they "removed 771 items from Google Groups relating to a case of continuous defamation against a man and his family" and "removed 119 search results that linked to websites allegedly hosting trademark infringing material". | Content removal requests were up by 18% in the US in July to December 2012 compared to the previous 6 months. Google received court orders from several different individuals. In some cases, a single court order resulted in a large response - for example they "removed 771 items from Google Groups relating to a case of continuous defamation against a man and his family" and "removed 119 search results that linked to websites allegedly hosting trademark infringing material". |
| The full data is below for you to download. What can you do with it? | The full data is below for you to download. What can you do with it? |
| Interactive guide | Interactive guide |
| Learn About Tableau | Learn About Tableau |
| Data summary | Data summary |
| Government removals requests | Government removals requests |
| Government requests from around the world to hand over user data | Government requests from around the world to hand over user data |
| Combined 2009-2012. | Combined 2009-2012. |
| Government requests to remove content from Google | Government requests to remove content from Google |
| Combined 2009-2012 | Combined 2009-2012 |
| Download the data | Download the data |
| • DATA: download the full spreadsheet | • DATA: download the full spreadsheet |
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| Data journalism and data visualisations from the Guardian | Data journalism and data visualisations from the Guardian |
| World government data | World government data |
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| Development and aid data | Development and aid data |
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