Google releases government requests map

Tonight, Google has released information about content removal or private user data requests from governments around the world.

The company claims that this has been done in order to achieve greater transparency, highlighting its commitment to the Global Network Initiative.

Using a Googlemap, the company is able to show the number of each type of request each country has made, and, in the case of removal requests, what Google product the request relates to.

Data shown is between July and December 2009, and the information displayed will be updated in six month increments.

Brazil leads on government requests to Google:

Brazil is in the lead so far with 291 content removal requests and a stunning 3663 private user data requests.

32 of the Brazil removal requests related to Youtube, 26 related to Blogger and 4 to Gmail. 82.5% of the removal requests were fully or partially complied with, and many involved a court order.

The United Kingdom made 59 content removal requests and 1166 private user data requests.

43 of the UK removal requests related to Youtube videos, and 76.3% of the removal requests were fully or partially complied with.

China, which considers removal requests state secrets, is not included on the Googlemap.

It should be noted, as Google's chief legal officer David Drummond highlights, that a government may request data to be removed for a number of reasons.

Of course many of these requests are entirely legitimate, such as requests for the removal of child pornography. We also regularly receive requests from law enforcement agencies to hand over private user data.

Again, the vast majority of these requests are valid and the information needed is for legitimate criminal investigations. However, data about these activities historically has not been broadly available. We believe that greater transparency will lead to less censorship.

As the Guardian highlights, Google has not been immune from criticism regarding data protection.

The company insists that the timing of the release of this information, which closely follows a letter to CEO Eric Schmidt from data protection authorities across the globe regarding Google Buzz and Google Streetview, is a coincidence.