Google has launched transparency reporting tools that show which governments have requested search information or requested content removal, including from YouTube, Blogger and other Google entities. Click the countries on the map to see data from the previous six months or head to the national traffic graphs which show disruptions to information flow caused by government blocks.
Google says:
Transparency is a core value at Google. As a company we feel it is our responsibility to ensure that we maximize transparency around the flow of information related to our tools and services. We believe that more information means more choice, more freedom and ultimately more power for the individual.
Interestingly, China is not featured in the report as the Chinese government considers its censorship demands to be state secrets. It remains to be seen if any other states will contest the sharing of their data in this way, and how activists will use the information to gather intelligence on government censorship.
Closer to home, Australia submitted 200 data requests and 14 removal requests, 93 per cent of which were complied with to some extent.
