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U.S. government requests for Google user info have tripled since 2009

Published Nov 14th, 2013 10:00PM EST
FBI Google User Data Requests

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The FBI and other law enforcement agencies have gotten more and more hungry for Google users’ data over the past four years. Google said on Thursday that requests for users data from the United States government have more than tripled since 2009, going from just under 3,600 in the second half of 2009 to more than 10,900 in the first half of 2013. And America isn’t alone in asking Google for more data: Worldwide requests have more than doubled from 12,500 in the second half of 2009 to 25,900 in the first half of 2013. Google’s most recent update on user data requests still doesn’t have any details on the requests it receives via the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act because the American government has barred it from disclosing details on FISA-related activities.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.