Facebook reveals US data request details

June 15, 2013 10:07

Facebook revealed Friday it received between 9,000 and 10,000 requests for user data from US authorities in the second half of last year, as it seeks to shield itself from a growing scandal.

The requests covered issues from child disappearances to petty crimes and terror threats and targeted between 18,000 and 19,000 accounts, the social networking site said, without revealing how often it complied with the requests.

Facebook "aggressively" protects its users' data, the company`s general counsel Ted Ullyot said in a statement.

"We frequently reject such requests outright, or require the government to substantially scale down its requests, or simply give the government much less data than it has requested. And we respond only as required by law," he added.

Facebook is fighting an expanding public backlash after a government contractor revealed it was among nine Internet giants that turned over user data to the secret National Security Agency surveillance program PRISM.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

TMC 'stings' BJP over Sandeshkhali, moves EC with video

TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose submitted a letter to the Election Commission on Thursday.

Air India Express cabin crew call off strike; no sacking of staffers

Both parties will discuss the issues and there will be a meeting again on May 28, he said.

GT coach backs skipper Gill despite runs woes

Purist Kirsten wants balance between bat and ball; backs under-pressure Gill

Population rise not religion-linked, Muslim fertility rate lowest: NGO

In a statement, the Population Foundation of India said it is deeply concerned about recent media reports "misreporting" the findings from the study to spread alarm regarding the growth of the Muslim population in the country.

Hasaranga to lead Sri Lanka at T20 World Cup

Hasaranga too is returning from a chronic heel pain on his left leg, which forced him to miss the ongoing IPL.