14 DAY TRIAL // Yahoo has published its brand new global transparency report, trying to keep people’s trust in the company in light of all the data requests coming from the NSA and other government agencies.
During the first six months of 2014, Yahoo received 18,594 demands, down from the 21,425 received in the last six months of 2013 or the 29,470 during the six months preceding the Edward Snowden scandal.
During this time, Yahoo rejected 1,853 of these requests because the documentation was lacking. More specifically, the exact account was missing or the demand didn’t specify a timeframe for which Yahoo had to provide data.
There’s also been a drop in the number of accounts affected by the requests. Between January and the end of June, law enforcement asked details about 30,551 accounts. In the previous six months, the number stood at 32,493, but the biggest difference once more is year over year. Before Edward Snowden blew the whistle, Yahoo received demands regarding 62,775 accounts.
There were also demands for emergency disclosure of data, which Yahoo receives in critical moments, such as when lives are in danger or when the government agencies believe they could prevent serious physical harm. Yahoo has received 88 such requests, affecting 126 accounts. The company provided data for 66 percent of these cases.
Content takedown demands
There have also been several content removal requests. India and the United Kingdom have sent one each and the United States three. According to the company’s data, an Indian law enforcement agency asked a blockade on a term based upon a court order concluding that a website associated with it contained defamatory content. While the company didn’t agree to block the specific term, the website at issue was removed from Yahoo’s search results.
The UK demanded the removal of four Flickr user accounts that allegedly promoted terrorisms. Following a short review, the accounts were terminated because they were violating the Community Guidelines.
Finally, one US agency asked for the removal of message board postings asking assistance in physically harming an identified individual.
Yahoo states that it now has a three-point system that ensures users and their needs come first. Basically, the company does its best to disclose as little information as possible. On other occasion, the company contests requests that it believes are in violation of users’ rights.
“We fight any requests that we deem unclear, improper, overbroad, or unlawful,” said Ron Bell, Yahoo General Counsel.