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Google says government requests 'up 120%' in four years | Google says government requests 'up 120%' in four years |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Google has said the number of requests it has had from governments to share information about its users has gone up by 120% in the past four years. | Google has said the number of requests it has had from governments to share information about its users has gone up by 120% in the past four years. |
The rise was blamed on an increase in users, but the company also said more governments were starting to "exercise their authority to make requests". | The rise was blamed on an increase in users, but the company also said more governments were starting to "exercise their authority to make requests". |
In releasing the data the search giant renewed its calls for government surveillance reform. | In releasing the data the search giant renewed its calls for government surveillance reform. |
Last year, 53,356 requests for data were made globally, Google said. | Last year, 53,356 requests for data were made globally, Google said. |
The majority of requests come from the US - but the figures do not include bulk surveillance carried out by the country's National Security Agency (NSA). | The majority of requests come from the US - but the figures do not include bulk surveillance carried out by the country's National Security Agency (NSA). |
Google has been publishing the twice-yearly Transparency Report since 2009. | Google has been publishing the twice-yearly Transparency Report since 2009. |
Transparency push | Transparency push |
Not all requests Google receives are successful. In the period of July to December 2013, 69% of the UK government's 1,397 requests resulted in user information being passed over. | Not all requests Google receives are successful. In the period of July to December 2013, 69% of the UK government's 1,397 requests resulted in user information being passed over. |
In the US, 83% of 10,574 requests were granted. | In the US, 83% of 10,574 requests were granted. |
"We consistently push back against overly broad requests for your personal information," wrote Richard Salgado, Google's legal director. | |
"But it's also important for laws to explicitly protect you from government overreach. | "But it's also important for laws to explicitly protect you from government overreach. |
"That's why we're working alongside eight other companies to push for surveillance reform, including more transparency." | "That's why we're working alongside eight other companies to push for surveillance reform, including more transparency." |
Following revelations from whistleblower Edward Snowden into US spying - technology companies have been pressing for more openness in the activities of governments. | Following revelations from whistleblower Edward Snowden into US spying - technology companies have been pressing for more openness in the activities of governments. |
Google has joined some of the sector's big hitters - including Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter - in pushing for the right to publish data into national security requests as well demands made for law enforcement purposes. | Google has joined some of the sector's big hitters - including Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter - in pushing for the right to publish data into national security requests as well demands made for law enforcement purposes. |
Journalists targeted | Journalists targeted |
In a separate publication on Friday, two Google engineers revealed the extent of state-sponsored hacking attempts on journalists and news organisations. | In a separate publication on Friday, two Google engineers revealed the extent of state-sponsored hacking attempts on journalists and news organisations. |
The engineers suggested that 21 of the top 25 news organisations in the world had been targeted - and that while general users face such attacks, journalists were "massively over-represented" in the study's data. | The engineers suggested that 21 of the top 25 news organisations in the world had been targeted - and that while general users face such attacks, journalists were "massively over-represented" in the study's data. |
Shane Huntley and Morgan Marquis-Boire presented their findings at the Black Hat security conference in Singapore. | Shane Huntley and Morgan Marquis-Boire presented their findings at the Black Hat security conference in Singapore. |
Mr Huntley told Reuters: "If you're a journalist or a journalistic organisation we will see state-sponsored targeting and we see it happening regardless of region, we see it from all over the world both from where the targets are and where the targets are from." | Mr Huntley told Reuters: "If you're a journalist or a journalistic organisation we will see state-sponsored targeting and we see it happening regardless of region, we see it from all over the world both from where the targets are and where the targets are from." |
He added that Chinese hackers had accessed a US news organisation - which was not named - by sending out a fake questionnaire to staff. | He added that Chinese hackers had accessed a US news organisation - which was not named - by sending out a fake questionnaire to staff. |
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