- New Surfshark’s research reveals a constant increase in government user data requests
- The major technology giants are also increasingly targeted with emergency requests, which involve less legal control
- While the United Kingdom is carrying out the request for emergency requests, the United States leads to the global demand for user data
About 190 governments have requested data out of a total of 8.4 million user accounts since 2020 – a new research carried out by Surfshark, one of the best VPN suppliers on the market, can reveal.
The most concern about Surfshark experts, however, is that emergency requests become “a new trend”.
A total of 153,000 account data data applications have been made in an emergency since 2013, in fact, the United Kingdom leading demand worldwide. Although these requests are crucial to protect public security, the abuse is also high.
The risks of an increase in emergency requests
Authorities may issue emergency requests when there is an imminent threat to life or serious injuries, as in the case of suicides, school shootings or bomb incidents.
The objective of these special requests is to obtain critical information as quickly as possible. This means that the police can often access the data of users without a court order or assignment, de facto bypassing standard legal procedures.
However, “if governments are starting to abuse these practices, for example, by interpreting” threats “too largely, this can lead to mass monitoring, to collect large amounts of data, and it can compromise essential freedoms,” said Advocate for the private life of Surfshark, Godackaite.
This is why, according to Sukackaite, while emergency requests play an important role in safeguarding lives and public security, they always require careful regulations and monitoring to protect individual rights and prevent potential abuses.
The Surfshark team has analyzed emergency requests worldwide against large companies of large technologies (Google, Microsoft, Apple and Meta) between 2013 and the first half of 2024.
As mentioned above, the United Kingdom opens the way here by representing 26%of the 153,000 emergency requests made since 2013. The United States follows 22%, the United Arab Emirates reaching third position with requests of 10.5%.
Google is the most targeted company by these emergency requests, representing 85% of all requests issued worldwide. It should be noted, however, that Google was the only company that discloses emergency requests between 2013 and 2015.
Nevertheless, experts could record an escalation in emergency requests (see image above) over the years, the first quarter of 2024, having already seen 15,000 requests.
It should also be mentioned that, although Google, Microsoft and Apple provide information on the number of emergency requests they receive, Meta does not specify it.
Data requests from United States and EU users
In addition to emergency requests, authorities may require access to user data during criminal surveys. Government agencies can also request online information from citizens for civil or administrative affairs.
Surfhark experts recorded a total of 293,000 accounts requested in 2013 only. By 2020, this number had increased to almost 1.3 million, with a record summit of more than 2.2 million reached in 2022. After a small drop in 2023, experts are now expecting 2024 to reach new heights.
As mentioned above, the United States is the country which required the most access to citizens’ data, with an average of an account requested for 100,000 people. European countries, however, contribute to the list of the first 10 with six regions (Germany, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Poland and Switzerland). Singapore, Brazil and South Korea are also among the first 10 countries issuing user data requests.
META has so far been the main objective of the authorities, representing 43% of the 12.1 million accounts requested from 2013 in mid-201. Google was the second most affected company (39%). Microsoft and Apple were the least targeted, with 10% and 8% of requests, respectively.
While the figures mentioned above explain the data requested by the world authorities, the Surfhark report also gives us data on business disclosure rates.
Between 2016 and 2022, Apple paved the way here, its disclosure rate going from 76% to 83%. While Apple’s conformity fell to 79% in 2023, the Google rate began to increase and reached 82% in mid-2024.
“This is currently going to google the company with the highest disclosure rate,” said Surfshark, adding that today’s meta compliance rate approaches Google.
Despite an increase in the first half of 2024, Microsoft has remained the company that has revealed the least user information since 2018.
How to secure your sensitive data
If you are concerned about your privacy, we recommend that you take measures to minimize the information you share with the major technology giants.
This is in particular the use of virtual private network software (VPN) whenever you browse the web. It encrypts your Internet connections while usurping your real IP address.
More importantly, however, you should use confidentiality -oriented alternatives when possible. Proton, for example, offers a range of software to help you cut Google in your digital life, including a secure messaging service, a password manager, an encrypted calendar and a Docs tool.
Here you can find more advice for de-google your life, including how to choose a more private and more browser.
