Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Google releases Government Requests Tool, showing info and takedown demands

Google has just announced a new "Government Requests tool", which shows graphically how many governmental requests Google and YouTube receive for either user information or to take down content. The background is explained at the Google Public Policy Blog: Greater transparency around government requests.

This can only be a good thing. Legal processes for the disclosure of user information and the removal of content are often not well understood. Any measure that increases transparency and accountability, while providing information to inform public debate, is a good thing. I would hope to see other service providers stepping up to provide this sort of information as well.

Then I'd like to see more well-informed debate on the matter.

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