Facebook recorded 16,580 requests from Indian government for data in first half of 2018

Out of the data requests, 617 were emergency requests, almost triple the number for the period before, the bi-annual Facebook Transparency Report released today showed. The social network complied with 53 per cent of the requests, which is exactly the same rate as the earlier period.

In a post, Chris Sonderby, VP & Deputy General Counsel, said “government requests for account data increased globally by around 26 per cent compared to the second half of 2017, increasing from 82,341 to 103,815 requests.” He said.

Out of the data requests, 617 were emergency requests, almost triple the number for the period before, the bi-annual Facebook Transparency Report released today showed. The social network complied with 53 per cent of the requests, which is exactly the same rate as the earlier period.

In India, the government requested for data on 23,047 users/accounts. Also, about 1000 requests were received for the preservation of account information. “When we receive a preservation request, we will preserve a temporary snapshot of the relevant account information but will not disclose any of the preserved records unless and until we receive formal and valid legal process,” the report clarified. When it comes to Internet disruptions, 15 wherein Jammu and Kashmir, five in UP and three each in Rajasthan and Punjab. Sonderby said: “We continue to be deeply concerned by internet disruptions, which prevent people from communicating with families and friends and also threaten the growth of small businesses.”

He said during the first half of 2018, the number of “pieces of content we restricted based on local law increased 7 per cent, from 14,280 to 15,337”. During the period, 2,999,278 pieces of content based on 466,810 copyright reports were removed, along with 203,375 pieces of content based on 69,756 trademark reports, and 641,059 pieces of content based on 29,828 counterfeit reports.