Facebook divulged to governments data on about 38,000 users worldwide in the first six months of 2013, the social-networking site announced today.
The figures, released in its first report detailing such affairs globally, highlights that the United States led the way in demands for Facebook user data. The data, the social-networking giant said, concern basic subscriber information, such as name and length of service. “Other requests may also seek IP address logs or actual account content,” Facebook said.
The United States sought data from between 20,000 to 21,000 accounts. Facebook said the data included “criminal and national security requests to the maximum extent permitted by law.” It said it was prohibited from detailing exact numbers or types of national security-related requests, which would include National Security Letters and FISA court orders.
In all, 74 nations sought Facebook data. India came in second, demanding information on 4,144 accounts. The United Kingdom was next, followed by Germany, Italy and France.
“We continue to push the United States government to allow more transparency regarding these requests, including specific numbers and types of national security-related requests. We will publish updated information for the United States as soon as we obtain legal authorization to do so,” the report said.
Twitter and Google also release semi-annual transparency reports, which also highlight that the United States is among the leaders in user-data requests.
But whether they have any meaning is open for debate following the disclosures by NSA leaker Edward Snowden. That’s because the government has direct access to the internet and scoops up millions of communications annually.
“We are now aware of a terrifying reality — that governments don’t necessarily need intermediaries like Facebook, Google, and Microsoft to get our data. They can intercept it over undersea cables, through secret court orders, and through intelligence sharing,” Privacy International said in a statement.
