The total number of requests — some of which seek data on more than one user account — rose to nearly 35,000 in the first half of 2014 from about 28,000 in the second half of 2013 and more than 26,000 in the first half of 2013, the first period for which Facebook reported the data.
In the first half of 2013, the U.S. government requested data on 20,000 to 21,000 user accounts for a total of 38,954 global requests, and in the second half of 2013 data was requested on a total of 39,320 user accounts, of which the U.S. government sought data on 18,715. Data was provided in response to 79% of first-half requests and 81% of second-half requests.
More than half of the requests for user data in the first half of 2014 were related to search warrants and 9,661 were related to subpoenas. Facebook released data in response to about 84% of the search warrant requests and about 80% of the subpoenas.
The company also said it received zero to 999 National Security Letters, which it may only report in bands of 1,000. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) also requires that companies wait six months to release similar band data on FISA requests. In its report on requests in the second half of 2013, Facebook reported 5,000 to 5,999 FISA content requests and zero to 999 FISA non-content requests, in addition to zero to 999 National Security Letters.
Trailing well behind the United States in second place for requests for user account data is India, which sought data on 5,958 accounts. The next five largest requests came from Germany, which wanted data on 3,078 accounts; Italy, which asked for data on 2,658 accounts; the United Kingdom, which sought data on 2,619 accounts; France, which asked for data on 2,599 accounts; and Brazil, which requested data from 2,269 accounts. These are the only countries that sought data on more than 1,000 accounts. China is not included in Facebook’s list.
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