Twitter’s Transparency document unearths the sector’s Most data-Hungry Governments

Twitter is an actual-time, finger-on-the-pulse measure of public opinion—so it is no shock that governments are eager about discovering out details about one of the most social network’s customers.

In a new transparency record covering the last six months of 2014, Twitter finds a whopping forty% increase in governmental person data requests when you consider that simply final July—bringing the full number of requests to round 2,871. The three most knowledge-hungry governments embrace the U.S., Russia, and Turkey. All three brought about the significant increase within the collection of information requests being revamped the period in query. The U.S., as an example, noticed a 29% elevate, whereas Turkey’s requests elevated a major a hundred and fifty%. Russia went from having never ahead of requested for any details about users to suddenly making more than a hundred requests.

Turkish knowledge requests mainly fascinated by supposed violations of private rights of each non-public voters and executive officials—even though having up to now banned Twitter, there’s no doubt the united states is just not the most important proponent of free speech in social media. Russia, in the meantime, requested data for everything ranging from supposed promotion of illegal medicine by means of certain customers to attempts to suppress non-violent demonstrations. In both cases, Twitter gave up no consumer information. “[W]e denied a few requests to silence popular critics of the Russian govt and different calls for to limit speech about non-violent demonstrations in Ukraine,” the corporate stated in a blog publish.

within the U.S., surveillance requests hit 1,622: more than half the full collection of global requests. Twitter surrendered information in eighty% of instances—even supposing it is outspoken about no longer being chuffed about doing it. at present, Twitter is suing the U.S. executive over claims its First amendment rights are being violated with the aid of the choice of national security Letters (NSLs) it receives from the feds every yr.

In its transparency document, Twitter notes that publishing details about how so much data it fingers over can carry questions, but that the company feels morally obligated to do so:

“providing this degree of transparency is not with out its problems and every now and then method we get difficult questions and criticism about our decisions. on the other hand, this candid comments helps us to be evermore considerate about our policies and choices regarding content and compliance as we navigate advanced, numerous legal regimes around the world. As extra firms consider publishing or expanding their own stories, we strongly motivate them to enroll in us and our friends at Google, Vimeo, WordPress and Wikimedia in publishing executive removing calls for. the worldwide group deserves this degree of transparency from its governments and its carrier suppliers.”

that you may read Twitter’s complete transparency record here.