A short report about US government and global requests was published on Facebook's newsroom on April 28, Thursday. (Photo : Facebook Newsroom)
Facebook announced that United States government had requested to provide data on 60 percent of the users in question, incognito. The social network responded saying that no bac kdoor or direct access will be given to any country.
In the latest Global Government Requests Report, the U.S. government had asked Facebook to provide information of users without acknowledging 60 percent of the concerned individuals. The report serves as Facebook's insight on queries submitted by the countries to formally request to access or block users, their posts or data for legal issues.
Responding indirectly to the U.S. government, Facebook said in a statement that the company does not "provide any government with "back doors" or direct access to people's data." The report further said that irrelevant to which country is asking for data, Facebook will take the fight to the court if it has to-to protect users' information, especially if the scope of a request is "overly broad" or a case is "deficient" in nature.
The purpose of Facebook's Global Government Requests Report is to ensure transparency of surveillance process conducted by the countries. Facebook is used by billions, not all of which join the network with positive intentions and many have a criminal background that stretches as far as terrorism, among other minor/major law violations.
According to Facebook, accounting the second half of 2015, there has been a 13 percent increase in such requests globally, making a total 46,763; while requests regarding violation of local laws had also increased from 20,568 seen in the first half to 55,827. Updated information about requests from the U.S. officials was also included in the report.
Requests of the U.S. government are entertained under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and through National Security Letters. Thecontains more details about requests made by national security agencies and law authorities.
Facebook has explicitly mentioned for the first time that had to reveal information about non-disclosure orders from the U.S. government and while they are ready to provide legal assistance to ensure public safety, they will give any government back door access or direct access to users' data. The following video by CNET gives more details on the story.
