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Government

Google Reveals for the First Time How Often the FBI Requests Personal Info in the Name of National Security

Mar. 7, 2013 8:46am

Even though Google bi-annually releases a transparency report revealing how many requests are made by governments around the world for information of its users, until now the search engine giant hadn’t been able to report the number of the requests made in national security investigations.

Google in a blog post Tuesday announced that it would be including the number of National Security Letters, those issued by the FBI as part of national security investigations, it received each year in the government’s attempt to obtain personally identifying information about its users.

But, due to an agreement with the FBI, Google is only able to publish a range for the number of NSLs it received for a range of users/accounts. That range each year from 2009 through 2012 was 0-999 NSLs.

Google Reveals Range Number of National Security Letters It Receives From the FBI Each Year

(Image: Google)

“You’ll notice that we’re reporting numerical ranges rather than exact numbers. This is to address concerns raised by the FBI, Justice Department and other agencies that releasing exact numbers might reveal information about investigations. We plan to update these figures annually,” Richard Salgado, Google’s legal director for its law enforcement and information security division, wrote in the post.

Wired’s David Kravets wrote for Threat Level the position by the government that only a range of numbers be published is “questionable” given that it’s required to publicly reveal the number of NSLs it issues annually anyway.

Salgado expounded upon Google’s role when it receives such a request in the blog post as well:

When we receive these requests, we:

  • scrutinize them carefully to ensure they satisfy the law and our policies;
  • seek to narrow requests that are overly broad;
  • notify users when appropriate so they can contact the entity requesting the information or consult a lawyer; and
  • require that government agencies use a search warrant if they’re seeking search query information or private content, like Gmail and documents, stored in a Google Account.
Google Reveals Range Number of National Security Letters It Receives From the FBI Each Year

This is an example of a National Security Letter obtained by EFF. (Image: EFF/Wikimedia)

Naturally, information privacy advocates had something to say about the number of NSLs being sent. The Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Dan Auerbach and Eva Galperin wrote in a blog post that although the NSLs can only obtain “relevant” information to investigations, the “process suffers from an inherent lack of checks that would curb abuse, such as any kind of meaningful judicial review.”

“While we continue to be in the dark about the full extent of how the law is being applied, this new data allays fears that NSLs are being used for sweeping access to large numbers of user accounts–at Google, at least,” the EFF writers continued.

EFF applauded Google’s transparency efforts and encouraged other Internet companies to share similar information as well “to give us a more complete picture” of the government’s activity as it pertains to NSLs.

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Related:

Featured image via 1000 Words / Shutterstock.com. 

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Comments (20)

  • paulrogers
    Posted on March 7, 2013 at 6:14pm

    Freedom is gone. RIP the USA. 1776-2008. There era of tyranny has begun and nothing will stop it. George W. Bush increased the government intrusion into our lives and Obama has put the pedal to the medal. I would gladly go back to the era of Bill “slick willie” Clinton which is something I thought I would never say.

    Report this comment

    paulrogers  
  • wopalope
    Posted on March 7, 2013 at 12:49pm

    So when do “we..the people.” march on Congress?
    (It will do no good to march on the WH.)

    Report this comment

    wopalope  
  • HYPNOTOAD
    Posted on March 7, 2013 at 12:49pm

    When I got saved in 1981, I remember thinking how hard it would be to have a global ID in the form of a chip to identify people (Christians & mark of the beast) because we didn’t have the technology. Now it is very, very easy to do it. It’s coming.

    Report this comment

    HYPNOTOAD  
  • mikerupp1986
    Posted on March 7, 2013 at 12:41pm

    That one world government that nobody thinks is gonna happen is happening. Because in a one world government they will know everything in order to keep power over the people. It’s coming and nothing will be able to stop it. It’s in prophecy and it’s gonna happen. Talks about it are always being brought up “the new world order”. This stuff is happening and will get worse. If you don’t want to be seen looking at anything you read or watch, use a proxy server. Get familiar with hiding your I.P. address unique to your home. Hide your name online, don’t use your full name. Get smart people because really all of what is happening is common sense to the gov’t, it’s just we’ve been brainwashed into thinking that all of what is happening is “ok”. Some are awake, some are asleep, and some will be squished in a wine vat which is an allegory of the armies of the nations gathered to the battle at the field of Megido in Israel. It’s coming everyone I just hope the majority understand 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Also, the gov’t eves dropping is nothing new. All in the name of National Security the gov’t wiretaps landlines daily and of course bullies organizations for information on it’s clients.

    Report this comment

    mikerupp1986  
  • CulperGang
    Posted on March 7, 2013 at 12:27pm

    National security, ISN’T ALLOWING A FOREIGNER as POTUS and a Att.Gen. Eric Holder selling drugs and guns: That end back in the US destroying US citizens. The FBI is run by a disingenous TRAITOR TO THE US CONSTITUTION. Spy on the REAL low lifes high in office for REAL NATIONAL SECURITY. Not We the Constituitionalist people. WE ARE NO THREAT TO OUR HOMELAND…………..YOU ARE. Arrest those bastards not a home owner protecting his family or the farmer selling wholesome food as opposed to MONSANTOS posion laden foods.

    Report this comment

    CulperGang  
  • Budrow
    Posted on March 7, 2013 at 12:10pm

    Oh who cares anyway? If you are Googling “How to build a bomb” or “How to bring down tall buildings with a single plane” or “Want to buy methamphetamines”, then someone needs to be looking over your shoulder anyway.

    Is this a violation of your privacy?
    Sure it is, but these bashtards are going to get it one way or another anyway so at least this way Google is reporting it on a regular basis.

    The problem is – the way Google is reporting it is kinda childish. Why the spread? What does that do, other than make Google look like they are covering something up for the Fed and are in colusion.

    Report this comment

    Budrow  
    • kadster01
      Posted on March 7, 2013 at 1:51pm

      There’s the mistake too many people make. “If I’m not doing anything wrong, what do I care?” The first problem is that what qualifies as “wrong” is a moving target. You mentioned some things that many would agree are inappropriate things to be doing (although simply Googling information about it shouldn’t put one under scrutiny until/unless one has committed a crime). One day, simply posting a comment on TheBlaze may flag you as someone to watch. (It might already.) The other problem is that it is based on the premise that you are guilty until proven innocent. Someone has to spy on you to make sure you’re not up to something. It is not the job of government to play nanny and watch over us.

      “Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.” – Ben Franklin

      Report this comment

      kadster01  
    • armyofnibiru
      Posted on March 7, 2013 at 3:57pm

      and we had a silly little notion,innocent until PROVEN guilty.what a bunch of rubes we are.aye

      Report this comment

      armyofnibiru  
    • Winterlion
      Posted on March 7, 2013 at 9:51pm

      Halfway through your comment, when you wrote “bashtards”, I immediately started reading the rest of your comment in Sean Connery’s voice.

      Report this comment

      Winterlion  
  • PanchoandLefty
    Posted on March 7, 2013 at 11:15am

    Big brother… Guess ill just ask Jeeves?… Remember those good old days?

    Report this comment

    PanchoandLefty  
    • CulperGang
      Posted on March 7, 2013 at 12:33pm

      21st century is going to be those good old days of LIBERTY and FREEDOM to pursue the American Dream.

      Give me Liberty or Death……….(I prefer their deaths………:-)

      People that who are driven by the need subjugate other people into serfdom are pure evil and need to be taken out of the gene pool so GOODWILL on earth is the only thing left.

      Report this comment

      CulperGang  
  • Senior Viking
    Posted on March 7, 2013 at 11:14am

    Do not use google products.
    Stay off FB etc.
    Problem solved.

    Report this comment

    Senior Viking  
  • Owt_Raged
    Posted on March 7, 2013 at 10:51am

    Google, the constitution says they can not have this information without a warrant, signed by a judge. Why is it that you just had over information on your customers without a warrant?

    Report this comment

    Owt_Raged  
  • SteelJewel
    Posted on March 7, 2013 at 10:30am

    Never stand in one place too long, you will get hit. Keep moving.

    Report this comment

    SteelJewel  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on March 7, 2013 at 10:19am

    Supposedly published an hour ago? yet just listed

    Report this comment

    Stoic one  

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