Google's Government Request Tool

Google Makes Government Requests for User Info Public

Google just introduced an app called the Government Requests tool. It’s a Google Maps app that shows how many requests each nation’s government has made for users’ personal information or for the removal of URLs from Google’s search index.

Google (Google) is the first Internet titan to make this information publicly available, and its decision to do so will put public pressure on competitors like Yahoo (Yahoo!) to follow suit. Wired quoted Google VP David Drummond, saying that the company hopes this and other steps towards greater transparency “will lead to less censorship.”

The tool provides two sets of counts recorded between July 1 and December 31, 2009: one of data requests and one of removal requests. Google only shares numbers for each, not any details about specific requests. It’s also important to note that the count doesn’t include take down notices issued because of copyright infringement. It does include other legit requests like the removal of child pornography or the retrieval of warranted data on criminals.

[edit on 21-4-2010 by george_gaz]

Hi all,

I thought that this would be interesting and warrants being brought to ATS's attention.

This is a great press forward from Google on transparency and especially as there are stirs in governments that talk about getting rid of conspiracy sites this tool might allow us to be able to measure any such drive.

Just a heads up, some prior threads on the topic:

Google discloses censorship demands to users
Google reveals government data requests and censorship

GL9.

God damn it. I did a search and everything!



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