Google Handles Record Number of Government Requests for Data

Google fielded a record number of government requests for user data during the first half of 2016, according to its updated Transparency Report. It was also able to report that it received at least one National Security Letter during the six months between July and December 2015. “Pursuant to the...

Requests for Yahoo User Data Spiked After Paris Terror Attacks

Yahoo’s latest transparency report, published today, reflects a spike in government and law enforcement requests for user data following the Paris terrorist attacks of Nov. 13. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 130 people and injuries to more than 350 others; the situation remains fluid with...

After a Turbulent Year, Still Some Optimism in the Security World

SAN FRANCISCO–Despite all of the revelations and accusations and recriminations in the security industry in the last year, Microsoft’s Scott Charney said he is still optimistic about the industry’s ability to defend users. However, that optimism is tempered by concern about the threats those user...

Yahoo Transparency Report Reveals More Than 12K U.S. Government Data Requests

Following the lead of Google, Twitter and other major Internet companies, Yahoo has issued its first transparency report, revealing that it received more than 12,000 requests for user data from the U.S. government in the first half of 2013. The company disclosed user content in nearly a third of...

Google, Microsoft Seek Help in Lifting FISA Gag Order

Google and Microsoft have locked arms with a number of civil liberties advocates in filing a brief with the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court hoping to lift a gag order preventing the two tech giants from releasing information on their role in the NSA’s surveillance activities. To...

Twitter Transparency Report Shows Huge Interest From U.S. Law Enforcement

Privacy advocates and security experts often warn users about the consequences of handing over so much of their personal data to Web sites or social networks, saying that they never know how it’s going to be used or sold. But it’s rare that users ever see examples of that in action. Twitter is...

Google Report Shows It Complied With 93% of U.S. Law Enforcement Data Requests

Google complied with 93 percent of the requests for user data that it received from U.S. law enforcement agencies through the first six months of this year. In the latest update to its Transparency Report, Google for the first time not only disclosed the number of requests that it receives, but...