Barbara K Iverson

futurejournalismproject:

Mapping Google’s Transparency Report

Every six months Google releases a report outlining how many times governments either ask it to remove content uploaded to its various services (eg., YouTube), or request data about specific Google users (eg., you).

Shown here is an overview for the United States.

Via Google:

Like other technology and communications companies, Google regularly receives requests from government agencies and federal courts around the world to remove content from our services and hand over user data. Our Government Requests tool discloses the number of requests we receive from each government in six-month periods with certain limitations.

Some content removals are requested due to allegations of defamation, while others are due to allegations that the content violates local laws prohibiting hate speech or pornography. Laws surrounding these issues vary by geographic region, and the requests reflect the legal context of a given jurisdiction.

The report does not provide specifics on whose data is being requested or what content is being asked to be removed.