Google received more than 10,000 government requests from all over the world to remove content from Google’s services like Youtube, Orkut etc,.
Google clearly states about the statistics of requests raised by many countries all over the world in its new site Google Government Requests. In that website the data request and removal request stats are displayed in numbers with map interface. However the historical data of this is not available in this site, and Google said “We believe that greater transparency will lead to less censorship.” in its blog.
The content request for private user data “are valid and the information needed is for legitimate criminal investigations.” Likewise, many requests to remove videos and other content are valid, for example requests to nix child pornography, Google notes.
As per today’s(28th April, 2010) stats on Google Government Requests site, Brazil stands in first with 3663 data request and India at fourth place with 1061 request while US and UK in between them with 3580 and 1166. France, Italy, Germany, Spain lines up with data request below 1000 in the list. For China there is no data Google claims that “Chinese officials consider censorship demands as state secrets, so we cannot disclose that information at this time.” in their website. As per the statistics Google approximately compiled fully or partially with more than 60% request of every government.
Google also states that “In our experience over the years a very small percentage of content removal requests from governments have centered on political speech, but often those requests are the ones that spark the most vigorous debate within Google. We have complied with some of those requests if, for instance, the material violated our own content policies.” So from this we can say Google performing well and helps itself to be friendly with both Government and Journalism.
Google keeps its pace cool regarding the increase of content/removal requests from governments as they releasing more new products and services every year which increases the users all over the world, In my experience the word “Google is Internet,Internet is Google” for most of my buddies.
Note:
For Brazil and India, government requests for content removal are high relative to other countries in part because of the popularity of our social networking website, orkut. The majority of the Brazilian and Indian requests for removal of content from orkut relate to alleged impersonation or defamation.
Source: Google Government Requests site.
Written by Sakthi Tharan (tharansakthi)
About Author: A professional blogger, writes on blogging and other various web trends and activities that relates to blogging. His articles are more strategical than being more technical.
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