Government demands to remove content reaches new highs, Google claims
For the past three years Google has released transparency reports, which loosely translate to tattling on the government and other entities that attempt to extract information from the search giant. None are likely happy with this reporting, but it is all public record and fair game.
"Today, for the seventh time, we’re releasing new numbers showing requests from governments to remove content from our services", states Google's legal director Susan Infantino.
In fact, despite the public outing, the onslaught has not abated. Indeed, it gains momentum. The latest report claims "from July to December 2012, we received 2,285 government requests to remove 24,179 pieces of content—an increase from the 1,811 requests to remove 18,070 pieces of content that we received during the first half of 2012".
This is not just the United States seeking data on you. Other governments are involved as well. Google says it has seen a sharp increase in requests from Brazil -- 697 requests to remove content from its platforms, to be exact. But it was not just the South American nation that ramped up its submissions to the search giant. Another is Russia; "In the first half of 2012, we received six requests, the most we had ever received in any given six-month period from Russia. But in the second half of the year, we received 114 requests to remove content", Infantino says.
Google also received inquiries from 20 countries regarding YouTube videos containing clips of the movie "Innocence of Muslims". While the videos were considered within the guidelines, Google restricted videos from view in several countries in accordance with local law after receiving formal complaints. It also temporarily restricted videos from view in Egypt and Libya due to what it considered particularly difficult circumstances there.
The company also made some changes to the way this information is reported. Infantino tells us "we’re now breaking down government requests about YouTube videos to clarify whether we removed videos in response to government requests for violating Community Guidelines, or whether we restricted videos from view due to local laws".
It is not that we didn't already know that Big Brother is watching us. However, the extent of the surveillance has grown since the last time we checked in with him.
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