Google: Government Requests To Remove Content Spiked In First Half Of 2012

Google announced that the number of content removal requests submitted by governments have spiked in the first half of the year.

From January through June 2012, there were there were 1,791 requests from government officials around the world to remove 17,746 pieces of content, almost double the previous six-month period.

Here is the chart showing the recent spike in content removal requests:

From January to June 2012, the following countries made the most requests to remove content:

1. Turkey (501)

2. United States (273)

3. Germany (247)

4. Brazil (191)

5. United Kingdom (97)

Governments have been eager to request data on users as well. From January to June 2012 there were 20,938 requests for information about 34,614 user accounts. The requests came from mostly the United States but here is the breakdown:

1. United States (7,969)

2. India (2,319)

3. Brazil (1,566)

4. France (1,546)

5. Germany (1,533)

6. United Kingdom (1,425)

Here is a chart showing the increase in user data requests over time:

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4. Twitter Will Hide, Not Remove, Tweets That Violate Copyrights