Google releases tool to show government censorship requests

Google has hit out at state attempts to clamp down on the internet by revealing governments’ requests to remove data from the web and get information about users.Tonight it released a web page with a map showing country by country where it has had government requests or court orders to remove content from the YouTube video service or its search results, or to provide details about users of its services.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/apr/20/google-google-street-viewAlso see:Google reveals government data requests and censorship
For the first time Google has released details about how often countries around the world ask it to hand over user data or to censor information.Brazil tops the list with 3,663 data requests while the US made 3,580 and the UK came a distant third with 1,166.Just last month the internet giant pulled its search engine out of China over online censorship issues.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8633642.stmGreater transparency around government requests by David Drummond, SVP, Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights states that “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Written in 1948, the principle applies aptly to today’s Internet — one of the most important means of free expression in the world. Yet government censorship of the web is growing rapidly: from the outright blocking and filtering of sites, to court orders limiting access to information and legislation forcing companies to self-censor content.So it’s no surprise that Google, like other technology and telecommunications companies, regularly receives demands from government agencies to remove content from our services. Of course many of these requests are entirely legitimate, such as requests for the removal of child pornography. We also regularly receive requests from law enforcement agencies to hand over private user data. Again, the vast majority of these requests are valid and the information needed is for legitimate criminal investigations. However, data about these activities historically has not been broadly available. We believe that greater transparency will lead to less censorship.
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/greater-transparency-around-government.htmlGovernment requests directed to Google and YouTube (includes the “tool”)
Like other technology and communications companies, we regularly receive requests from government agencies around the world to remove content from our services, or provide information about users of our services and products. The map shows the number of requests that we received between July 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009, with certain limitations.We know these numbers are imperfect and may not provide a complete picture of these government requests. For example, a single request may ask for the removal of more than one URL or for the disclosure of information for multiple users.
http://www.google.com/governmentrequests/Google widens focus on censorship attempts
Google on Tuesday shone a spotlight on governments that seek to censor its services or request personal information about its users, widening its campaign against internet restrictions beyond China and other oppressive regimes.The disclosures were welcomed by privacy and internet freedom advocates in the US, who called on other internet and telecommunications companies to follow suit.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a8033c26-4cd3-11df-9977-00144feab49a.htmlAustralia makes Google’s top 10 censorship list
Australia comes in at number 10 on a list of countries that have asked the search engine Google to hand over user data or to censor information.Google has for the first time released information about the number of such requests that it gets from countries around the world.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/21/2879345.htmBritain heads Google’s European censorship list
The British Government made more requests for content to be removed from Google last year than any other country in Europe, according to figures released by the company today.Between July and December last year, Google received 1,166 data requests from British government agencies, of which 59 were requests for content to be removed. Google complied with 76.3 per cent of the removal requests.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article7103435.eceGoogle attempts to open up on government censorship
Google has gone on the offensive in its battle against Internet censorship, launching a tool which it says will achieve greater transparency on its dealings with Governments and will lead to less Internet censorship.The Government Requests tool aims to give Google users more information about the requests for user data or content removal it receives from government agencies.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/343918/google_attempts_open_up_government_censorship/Google says its services are widely blocked, censored [IDG]
Google’s services are blocked or censored to some degree in one-fourth of the countries where it operates, the company said Monday.”China is the most polarizing example, but it is not the only one. Google products — from search and Blogger to YouTube and Google Docs — have been blocked in 25 of the 100 countries where we offer our services,” wrote Rachel Whetstone, Google’s vice president of global communications and public affairs, on the company’s European public policy blog.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9175827/Google_says_its_services_are_widely_blocked_censoredGoogle releases data on governments’ demands for user data, site censorship
Advertisers aren’t the only ones hungry for data on online users. So are U.S. and foreign governments, according to Internet giant Google.The online search provider disclosed how often it receives requests for private information from government authorities around the globe, as well as demands to censor its applications. The company said it hopes to shed light on the practices of governments and on a growing push to block information on the Web.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/20/AR2010042005106.htmlGoogle Government Search Tool: State Censorship, User Data Requests Released By Google [AP]
Google Inc. has set up a new tool to show where it’s facing the most government pressure to censor material and turn over personal information about its users.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/20/google-government-search-_n_545318.html