Facebook
recorded a slight increase in government requests for account data in
the second half of 2014, according to its Global Government Requests
Report, which includes information about content removal.
Requests
for account data increased to 35,051 in the second half of 2014 from
34,946 in the first half, with requests from countries such as India
rising and those from others including United States and Germany
falling, the report by the world’s largest Internet social network
showed.
Facebook
said it restricted 9,707 pieces of content for violating local laws, 11
percent more than in the first half, with access restricted to 5,832
pieces in India and 3,624 in Turkey. (govtrequests.facebook.com)
“We
will continue to scrutinize each government request and push back when
we find deficiencies. We will also continue to push governments around
the world to reform their surveillance practices in a way that maintains
the safety and security of their people while ensuring their rights and
freedoms are protected,” Monika Bickert, Facebook’s head of global
policy management wrote in a blog post.
Bickert
said Facebook challenges requests that appear to be “unreasonable” or
“overbroad” and if a country requests content be removed because it is
illegal, Facebook may restrict access only in that country.
The
technology industry has pushed for greater transparency on government
data requests, seeking to shake off concerns about their involvement in
vast, surreptitious surveillance programs revealed by former spy agency
contractor Edward Snowden.
Facebook,
Microsoft, Yahoo and Google last year began publishing details about
the number of government requests for data they receive.
Facebook
on Sunday also updated its community standards to tell users what types
of posts are not allowed on the service, providing guidance on policies
related to self-injury, dangerous organizations, bullying and
harassment, criminal activity, sexual violence and exploitation.
Posted by : Gizmeon
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