Tag Archives: privacy

Government requests for data about Google users doubled since 2010


By SB Anderson

(Updated 11/17/13) Google’s somewhat-delayed update to its semi-annual transparency report was released this morning and we’ve just started crunching the numbers, but thought we’d share a handy visual overview that Google Blog posted in the interim, along with a few of our own graphics.

Quick summary: The government requests for user accounts info and user data just keep on coming, particularly in the U.S. They have doubled since 2010 — 25,900 requests in the first half of 2013 compared to 13,400 in the same period of 2010. And the US now makes up 42% of all requests, compared to 32% in 2010.

On the bright side, the percentage of U.S. requests that eventually led to some data being released has been steadily declining. It was 83% in the first half of this year and 94% at the end of 2010. The type of request that had the highest chance of leading to data being released: A wiretap order (100% in 7 cases). The least likely: A court order that wasn’t a subpoena or search warrant, with 69% of cases ending with data release.

Google Transparency Report Graphic

And here’s a chart we at OTB put together to show how the authorities come knocking.

And now that Google has weighed in, here is a summary of all the major companies that are now issuing transparency reports.

First half of 2013 transparency rollup

You’re getting a digital pat-down from TSA long before you even get to the gate


By SB Anderson

The Transportation Security Administration apparently is doing a major digital pat-down of passengers before they reach the airport security gate, “searching a wide array of government and private databases that can include records like car registrations and employment information,” the New York Times reports this morning.

(UPDATE; While it doesn’t cite the New York Times story directly, a TSA blog item posted mid-day today seems to refute the story’s premise that the amount of data being examined has expanded.)

The database searches extend beyond the standard “Secure Flight” data screens that compare date of birth, name and gender against watch lists, and beyond passengers entering the country, the Times aid.

“It is unclear precisely what information the agency is relying upon to make these risk assessments, given the extensive range of records it can access, including tax identification number, past travel itineraries, property records, physical characteristics, and law enforcement or intelligence information,” the Times said.

One official from a privacy group called the data screening “a pre-crime assessment every time you fly.” Edward Hasbrouck, a consultant to the Identity Project added: “The default will be the highest, most intrusive level of search, and anything less will be conditioned on providing some additional information in some fashion.”

NSA FOIA requests explode in months since Snowden leaks began


By SB Anderson

Freedom of Information Act requests filed with the National Security Agency have boomed since Edward Snowden began leaking top-secret documents in June.

An internal document released last week to MuckRock showed 3,382 FOIA requests between June 6 and Sept, 14 of this year — nearly 12 times the 293 filed in that same period a year ago.

The requests have leveled off somewhat from earlier in the summer when the first media leaks appeared, although they continue to be much higher than normal. For perspective, for all of FY12 we received only 1809 requests,” the NSA said in its memo.

Change in NSA FOIA Requests

Facebook says it rejects 20% of government user data requests


By SB Anderson

Countries that made the most data requests of Facebook

Countries that made the most data requests of Facebook in the fist half of 2013.

Finally catching up with competitors such as Google who have issued transparency reports for several years, Facebook on Tuesday released its first-ever “Global Government Requests Report” detailing the number of times officials in various countries sought data about users and accounts.

The report covers the first half of 2013 and says the U.S. made between 11,000 and 12,000 requests involving between 20,000 and 21,000 users or accounts. Facebook complied with 79% of those requests. The range for the U.S. vs. a specific number for other countries is believed to be because of U.S. requirements that requests involving national security can only be released in ranges. Facebook and several of its rivals are urging the government to allow specific numbers be released instead of ranges.

“We continue to push the United States government to allow more transparency regarding these requests, including specific numbers and types of national security-related requests. We will publish updated information for the United States as soon as we obtain legal authorization to do so,” Facebook General Counsel Colin Stretch said in releasing the data.

Facebook’s data seems to indicate a significant drop-off in the number of users or accounts from the second half of 2012. In first-ever data it released after the PRISM program details were first leaked by Edward Snowden earlier this year, it said it had received 9,000-10,000 requests involving 18,000-19,00 users or accounts between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2012. (See a table that summarizes data reports from a variety of companies).

Globally, Facebook said it has up to 26,607 requests involving 38,954 users in about 70 countries. The average compliance rate was 33%. India (3,245 requests and 4,144 users/accounts) and the United Kingdom (3,245/4,144) were No. 2 and No. 3 behind the U.S.

“The vast majority of these requests relate to criminal cases, such as robberies or kidnappings,” Facebook’s Stretch said. “In many of these cases, these government requests seek basic subscriber information, such as name and length of service. Other requests may also seek IP address logs or actual account content. We have strict guidelines in place to deal with all government data requests.”

Facebook’s compliance rate is higher than Twitter’s (it reported 67% a few weeks ago) and is about the same as Microsoft, which reported about 80% for 2012, and is lower than Google’s most recently reported 88%, which itself was down from 94%.

→ Earlier stories on transparency reports.

ON THE JUMP: A sortable chart with all the Facebook data.

Continue reading →

“A huge CIA contractor is now Dana Priest’s boss. Think about that.”

— Quote from a Gawker story that reminded us of this recent QZ.com story: Jeff Bezos, The Washington Post’s new owner, is a “spymaster” with a recent a $600 million deal to build the CIA a “private cloud.”