Facebook: Government info requests rising

Facebook reported Tuesday that government requests for its data have jumped 20 percent since late last year.

“Since our first report, we’ve seen an increase in government requests for data and for content restrictions,” Facebook deputy general counsel Chris Sonderby wrote in a blog post.

In its three total reports on the information, Facebook has given over data from profiles roughly 80 percent of the time.

Sonderby stressed Facebook’s reluctant compliance with all government data requests. Facebook will “push back hard when we find deficiencies or are served with overly broad requests.”

Companies like Facebook and Microsoft have been leading a crusade against honoring government data requests.

Microsoft is currently fighting a subpoena for customer data stored in an overseas database.

Facebook says it is also challenging what it calls “bulk search warrants” for info on nearly 400 people issued by a New York state court.

“These overly broad warrants violate the privacy rights of the people on Facebook and ignore constitutional safeguards against unreasonable searches and seizures,” Sonderby said.

Tech giants like Google, LinkedIn and Twitter have thrown their support behind Facebook in the case.

An appeals court is expected to rule in December.

Sonderby reiterated a long-standing call for Congress to reform National Security Agency (NSA) oversight and the current electronic communications laws.

Tech companies and privacy advocates have been pushing for lawmakers to pass a bill requiring a warrant for access to electronic content.

“We believe all government data requests must be narrowly tailored, proportionate to the case in review, and subject to strict judicial oversight,” Sonderby said.