Internet20.12.2013

Google content removal requests from South Africa

freedom of speech information

Google released its latest transparency report on Thursday, 19 December 2013, showing the number of requests it received from government to remove content from its service from January to June 2013.

Of the 3,846 government requests to remove 24,737 pieces of content (which Google said is a 68 percent increase over the second half of 2012), only one was from South Africa.

The search giant reported that it received a request from the Counter Intelligence Agency to remove a blog post that allegedly infringed copyright by criticising a media release that the agency had issued.

“We did not remove the blog post,” Google said.

Interestingly, the website of Counter Intelligence Agency South Africa (SACIA) describes the organisation as a non-partisan private company, not a government agency.

The corporate website of the Counter Intelligence Agency said that it assists corporations and government with developing “Enhanced Due Diligence”. It said it also engages in “clandestine actions” at the appeal of law-enforcement agencies.

Another statistic reported by Google is the number of user information requests it receives.

For the January to June 2013 period Google reported that no user data requests were received from South African law enforcement agencies.

It also reported receiving 5 court orders pertaining to 8 items from South Africa which also resulted in none of the content being removed.

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