Extra Credit: Apple declares govt information requests

Apple has joined the likes of Facebook and Google by releasing figures showing how many times governments around the world have requested personal information about its customers.

From 1 January to 30 June this year there were almost 3,000 data requests made from 31 countries - with the U.S and UK topping the list. 

Apple said the most common requests related to ‘robberies and other crimes’, requests from law enforcement agencies searching for missing people or hoping to prevent a suicide, and data about the owners of lost or stolen phones. 

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From 1 January to 30 June this year there were almost 3,000 data requests made from 31 countries. This table shows the countries that requested data, listed in alphabetical order. The U.S has forbidden Apple from declaring exact figures, but the tech giant said it received up to 2,000 requests across various states

TOP TEN GOVERNMENT REQUESTS

1. U.S - between 1,000 and 2,000 requests about 2,000 to 3,000 accounts

2. UK - 127 requests about 141 accounts. Amount granted: 37 per cent

3. Spain - 102 requests about 104 accounts. Amount granted: 22 per cent

4. Germany - 93 requests about 93 accounts. Amount granted: 6 per cent

5. Australia - 74 requests about 75 accounts. Amount granted: 54 per cent

6. France - 71 requests about 72 accounts. Amount granted: 24 per cent

7. Italy - 60 requests about 72 accounts. Amount granted: 37 per cent

8. Japan - 42 requests about 49 accounts. Amount granted: 24 per cent

9. Hong Kong - 32 requests about 33 accounts. Amount granted: 75 per cent

10. Singapore - 23 requests about 23 accounts. Amount granted: 57 per cent

The firms said it assesses every data request it receives ‘carefully’ and did not grant all requests for information it received in the first half of this year.