Google report says government surveillance is on the rise

13 Nov 2012 | minipost, News and features

Google’s new transparency report reveals government requests for user data and takedowns are on the increase

Today the search giant updated its bi-annual report with requests from January to June 2012. In a blog accompanying the report a Google analyst said:

This is the sixth time we’ve released this data, and one trend has become clear: Government surveillance is on the rise.

In the first half of 2012, the internet giant received 20,938 demands for user data from government proxies around the world — a 33 per cent increase from the same period last year.

Take down requests from government entities are also on the rise, government administrators made 1,789 demands to remove 17,746 items. Google also released details of some of the UK removal requests:

  • We received a request from a local law enforcement agency to remove 14 search results for linking to sites that criticize the police and claim individuals were involved in obscuring crimes. We did not remove content in response to this request. In addition, we received a request from another local law enforcement agency to remove a YouTube video for criticizing the agency of racism. We did not remove content in response to this request.
  • The number of content removal requests we received increased by 98% compared to the previous reporting period

In a policy paper released last week Index expressed serious concerns about the rapid increase in the number of governments and government surrogates who use takedown requests to silence critics.

READ: Standing up to threats to digital freedom report [PDF]

Ask your police commissioner candidates about social media arrests

13 Nov 2012 | Uncategorized

The whole of the UK is riveted by the race to elect police commissioners.

Actually let me rephrase that. The police commissioner elections are to be held this Thursday, to widespread indifference. But these are potentially important positions, so maybe we should be asking questions of the candidates (including John Prescott, pictured).

Here’s one to try for your local candidate: Do you think arresting young people for posting “offensive” content on Facebook and Twitter is an appropriate use of police time and taxpayers money?

In case you don’t know who your local police commissioner candidates are, you can search for them here www.policeelections.com.

Let us know if you get an answer in the comments  below, on our Facebook page, or on twitter @indexcensorship.

UPDATE: We’ve had an answer from Rupert Moss-Eccardt, Lib Dem police commissioner candidate for Cambridgeshire

(Hat tip to Bob Farrell on Facebook for the suggestion)

READ: Man arrested for Facebook poppy burning picture
Matthew Woods Facebook conviction – we cannot keep prosecuting jokes
Paul Chambers on the Director of Public Prosecutions
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