Google complied with the vast majority of government requests for user data. Google: Demands for user data up

Google received 29 percent more government requests for user data in the U.S. during the first six months of 2011 compared to the last half of 2010, the company reported Tuesday.

The company complied with 93 percent of the 5,950 government requests for user data it received during that time frame.


In addition, there were 70 percent more government requests in the U.S. to remove content from its various services — from YouTube to Web searches to Gmail — during the same time period.

“Like other technology and communications companies, Google regularly receives requests from government agencies and courts around the world to remove content from our services and hand over user data,” the company said on its website in reporting the data.

There are some requests from local law enforcement agencies that Google turned down.

“We received a request from a local law enforcement agency to remove YouTube videos of police brutality, which we did not remove,” Google said. “Separately, we received requests from a different local law enforcement agency for removal of videos allegedly defaming law enforcement officials. We did not comply with those requests, which we have categorized in this report as defamation requests.”

Government requests for user data rose from Google rose in several different countries around the world — including France, Germany, South Korea and Spain, according to the company’s report.

Google also reported that content takedown requests were up from other governments, including the U.K., where requests increased by 71 percent.

Google reports the figures every six months. The company said that various government agencies, courts and other authorities ask for content removal for a variety of reasons — including allegations of defamation and violation of laws prohibiting pornography or hate speech.

In the U.S., Google complied with 63 percent of government requests to remove material during the latest six-month period, according to the report.

This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 11:51 a.m. on October 25, 2011.

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