Google Claims Government Requests For User Information Have Increased Over 100% Since 2010

Google released an updated Transparency Report today, claiming government requests for user information have increased more than 100 percent since it began posting transparency reports in 2010.

According to Google, this is the eighth update to its transparency report in the last three years. Google said the climb in requests is in part a result of an increase in the number of governments wanting information, “More governments have made requests than ever before. And these numbers only include the requests we’re allowed to publish.”

The top three governments requesting information between January and June of this year were the US, India and Germany. At 10,918 requests, US requests for user information represented 83 percent of total requests.

As far as data Google isn’t allowed to publish (see bottom right corner of image), and in lieu of this year’s PRISM scandal, Google was quick to point it it does not agree with the US Department of Justice:

The US Department of Justice contends that US law does not allow us to share information about some national security requests that we might receive. Specifically, the US government argues that we cannot share information about the requests we receive (if any) under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). But you deserve to know.

Google went on to say it opened a federal case to “shine more light on the FISA process” and wrote a letter of support for proposed legislation requiring more transparency around national security related requests by the government.

Google noted new information on the legal process for US criminal requests has been added to today’s transparency report, including breaking out emergency disclosures, wiretap orders, pen register orders and other court orders.