Google user data requests from the government of India jumped by over 10 per cent and requests on Google users or accounts by over 18 per cent in the six months to December 2012 relative to one year previously, according to the web search giant’s latest transparency report.

In absolute numbers, Google had received 2,431 user data requests from New Delhi, and it received 4,106 requests relating to users or accounts.

The proportion of data requests that Google fully or partially complied with rose from 64 per cent a year ago to 66 per cent last month, again for a six month interval. However Google’s compliance level with the Indian government has dropped from a much higher 79 per cent during the six months to December 2010.

Worldwide

Global user data requests stood at 21,389, slightly over 17 per cent higher than a year earlier. Global government requests on Google users and accounts stood at 33,634, down almost three per cent from a year ago.

The largest number of requests came from the U.S., with 8,438 requests for information about 14,868 users.

India came second, followed by France, and Brazil, Britain and Germany featured in the top six, according to Google.

In its overview of the transparency report results the technology firm said, “Like other technology and communications companies, Google regularly receives requests from governments and courts around the world to hand over user data.”

It added that in this report, both the usage of its services as well as the user data request numbers had increased every year.