Tech giants Facebook, Microsoft and Apple have revealed details of surveillance data requests from the US government.
Facebook said it received between 9,000 and 10,000 requests for data from the US government in the second half of 2012, which covers 18,000-19,000 of its 1.1 billion user accounts globally.
Facebook’s general counsel, Ted Ullyot, said: "We hope this helps put into perspective the numbers involved and lays to rest some of the hyperbolic and false assertions in some recent press accounts about the frequency and scope of the data requests that we receive."
Microsoft said it received received between 6,000 and 7,000 criminal and national security warrants, subpoenas and orders in the second half of 2012 affecting between 31,000 and 32,000 consumer accounts from US governmental entities.
Microsoft VP and deputy general counsel, John Frank, appreciated the effort by US government to allow the company to report more information.
"With more time, we hope they will take further steps. Transparency alone may not be enough to restore public confidence, but it’s a great place to start," Frank said.
Apple noted that it had received 4,000 to 5,000 data requests since December 2012 of which 9,000-10,000 accounts or devices were specified.
The iPhone maker said it has always placed a priority on protecting our customers’ personal data, and we don’t collect or maintain a mountain of personal details about our customers in the first place.
