Millions of handovers from Apple, Google and Meta to US government

Research shows that large companies, including Apple, Google and Meta, have reportedly handed over millions of user data to the US government.

According to Proton, government support requests for data from users, a Swiss privacy company, are on the rise, forcing large tech companies to provide authorities’ personal data. This trend is also prevalent in Europe as governments request user data.

Google Data Shows an Increase in Government Request for User Data

An analysis conducted by Proton examined public data from three companies’ transparency reports on the total number of user accounts shared with US authorities between 2014 and 2024.

According to Proton, the large tech companies have increased the number of accounts they have shared with law enforcement by more than 600% over the past decade, with a total of 3.1 million people.

The EuroNews report shows that data from the Swiss company’s report “indicating a growing desire from the US government to utilize Big Tech’s large data reserves.” However, Proton’s findings do not criticize the policies of major high-tech companies as they must meet the needs of law enforcement agencies.

However, the company suggests that large tech companies could beat this by investing in encryption and protecting information from “government invasions.”

Despite these efforts, Euroneus explains that companies may have no choice in the end. The report reveals that law enforcement agencies can place their hands on data through subpoena, court orders, or search warrants.

Additionally, a valid search warrant can have a presumed cause, which gives law enforcement access to user messages, photos, videos, timeline posts, and location information.

But that’s not the only way, as the US government can also use its national security status under foreign intelligence to release user information and content from Google Drive, Gmail, and photos to major technology companies like Google.

This request is not only unique to the US, as other governments, such as Germany, France, Italy, Romania, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Turkey, make requests at various levels.

However, Google’s transparency report shows that government demands for user information are generally on the rise. Google Data shows that the World Government had submitted more than 235,000 user information requests by mid-2024. This information involved 500,000 accounts from 100,000 requests of 235,000 accounts filled out in the first part of 2020.

According to the Google Transparency Report, the European government has increased its demand for user data from the start of 2020.

Google data shows the German government, which filed over 12,600 requests in January 2020, and 41,000 requests in mid-2024.

Large technicians say requests may help respond to emergencies

Meta said safety centres may provide information to law enforcement “that will help respond to emergencies, including harm, suicide prevention and the recovery of missing children.”

According to EuroNews, all requests made to Meta are “carefully reviewed for legal fulfillment,” and social media giants can “reject or require greater idiosyncraticity” in response to widespread or vague requests.

At Google, whenever law enforcement requests data about a particular user, search engine companies send an email before disclosing relevant information. This may differ if the request is made in “an emergency situation,” for example, in cases of a threat to the safety of a child or other threat to life.

Regarding the demands of foreign governments, Google has indicated that it will determine on a case-by-case basis whether it meets the requirements of US law, domestic law, company policies, and international norms.