Apple, Google and Meta handover millions of user data to US government, study finds

Big tech companies, including Apple, Google, and Meta have reportedly handed over millions of user data to the US government, according to a study.

According to Proton, a Swiss privacy firm, government-backed requests for users’ data have been on an increase, forcing big tech firms to give US authorities their users’ personal data. The trend has been prevalent even in Europe as governments have also made requests for user data.

Google data shows an increase in government requests for user data

An analysis carried out by Proton looked at public data from the three firms’ transparency reports about the total number of user accounts that have been shared with the US authorities between 2014 to 2024.

According to Proton, the big tech firms have increased the number of accounts they have shared with law enforcement by over 600% for a total of 3.1 million in the past 10 years.

A Euronews report indicates that the data from the Swiss firm’s report “shows a growing appetite from the US government to take advantage of Big Tech’s massive data reserves.” The Proton findings however do not criticize big tech firms’ policies as they are also obliged to comply with law enforcement needs.

However, the firm suggests that the big tech firms might defeat this by investing in encryption to protect information from “government intrusion.”

Despite such efforts, the companies might not have an option after all, according to the Euronews explanations. The report reveals that law enforcement can lay their hands on the data through a subpoena, a court order or search warrant.

Additionally, a valid search warrant with probable cause could grant law enforcement agents access to user messages, photos, videos, timeline posts, and location information.

But, that’s not all as the US government can also use a national security letter under foreign intelligence act to force big tech firms like Google to release user information and content from Google Drive, Gmail, and Photos.

The requests are not only unique to the US only as other governments like Germany, France, Italy, Romania, Malta, Netherlands, Slovakia and Turkey have also made requests, albeit at different levels.

However, a Google transparency report shows a general increase in government requests for user information. Google data shows that world governments submitted over 235,000 requests for user information by mid-2024. The information concerned half a million accounts, up from the 100,000 requests on 235,000 accounts filled in the first part of 2020.

According to the Google transparency report, European governments have increased their requests to the search engine giant for user data since the beginning of 2020.

Google data also shows the German government submitted over 12,600 requests in January 2020 and 41,000 requests for information in mid-2024.

Big techs say the requests may help in responding to emergencies

In its safety center, Meta said it sometimes provides law enforcement with information that will “help them respond to emergencies, including those that involve the immediate risk of harm, suicide prevention and the recovery of missing children.”

According to Euronews, each and every request made to Meta is “carefully reviewed for legal sufficiency” and the social media giant can “reject or require greater specificity” on requests that are broad or vague.

At Google, whenever the law enforcement requests for data on a specific user, the search engine firm sends them an email before disclosing any relevant information. This can be different when the request is made “in case of an emergency,” for instance, child safety threats or other threats to life.

As for foreign government requests, Google indicated it decides on a case-by-case basis if they meet the requirements for US law, domestic law, company policy, and international norms.