Govt request for Google user info up 10.5% in H1 2015

The number of requests to reveal information of Google and YouTube users sent by law enforcement agencies in the country has gone up by 10.48% between January and July this year, compared with same period in 2014, according to Google.

In the first six months of 2015, total such requests was 3,087, up from 2,794 from the year ago period. Google complied with 44% of total such requests in the same period by producing some data as sought by Indian agencies, lower than 61% compliance made in the previous comparable period, according Google Transparency report.

There was a decline, however, in terms of total user accounts requested by agencies. In the 3,087 requests made during January- July 2015, the agencies wanted to know details of 4,829 user profiles on Google and YouTube, while in the same period last year, the number of account request was 5,002.

There was a drop in number of user information requests when compared with second half of 2014, when the numbers totaled 3112.

Google receives such requests from time to time from government agencies worldwide who seek information about particular user or users. The search engine giant rviews each request to make sure that it complies with both the spirit and the letter of the law, and could also refuse to produce information.