India govt’s FB content block requests rises 3 times in H1, 2015

BANGALORE, INDIA: The recent Government Requests Report(Jan.-June, 2015) of Facebook shows that content restrictions and government requests for data has been rising significantly throughout the world.

Within the first half(January to June) this year, Facebook has blocked 15,155 pieces of content. The number is significantly higher from the second half of 2014 as Facebook reports reveal that it blocked only 5,832 pieces of content during Jan.-June, 2014.

Facebook received 5,115 requests from India, along with 6,268 users/accounts requests. Some amount of data were produced in 45.32 percent requests.

Giving further details on the nature of content block or restricted access,  Facebook clarified in its website that it restricted access to content reported primarily by law enforcement agencies and the India Computer Emergency Response Team within the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology mainly, including anti-religious content and hate speech that could cause unrest and disharmony as well.

The reports show that the US topped all other countries in such requests. Facebook received 17,577 requests from the US in the first half of 2015, along with 26,579 users/accounts requests. Some data were produced in 79.85% percent requests.