- New Surfshark research reveals a constant increase in government user data applications
- Great technological giants also are increasingly addressed to emergency applications, which imply less legal scrutiny
- While the United Kingdom leads the demand for emergency applications, the United States directs the global user data demand
Around 190 governments have requested data from a total of 8.4 million user accounts since 2020, can reveal a new research carried out by Surfshark, one of the best VPN suppliers in the market.
However, what most of Surfshark’s experts’ concerns is that emergency applications are becoming “a new trend.”
A total of 153 thousand account data requests have been made in emergency cases since 2013, in fact, with the United Kingdom leading the demand worldwide. While these requests are crucial to safeguard public security, the space for abuse is also high.
The risks of an increase in emergency applications
The authorities can issue emergency applications when there is an imminent threat to life or serious injuries, as in the case of suicides, school shootings or bomb threat incidents.
The objective of these special demands is to obtain critical information as quickly as possible. This means that the police can often access user data without a court order or citation, de facto without going through standard legal procedures.
However, “if governments begin to abuse these practices, for example, when interpreting the ‘threats’ too widely, it can lead to mass surveillance, the collection of large amounts of data and can compromise essential freedoms,” said the privacy lawyer in Surfshark, Godckaite.
That is why, according to Sukackaite, while emergency applications fulfill an important role in the protection of life and public safety, they still require careful regulation and supervision to protect individual rights and prevent potential abuse.
The Surfshark team analyzed the emergency applications made worldwide with the main companies of great technology (Google, Microsoft, Apple and Meta) between 2013 and the first half of 2024.
As mentioned above, the United Kingdom leads the road here by representing 26% of the 153,000 emergency applications made since 2013. The United States follows the demand with 22%, with the United Arab Emirates reaching third position with 10.5% of applications.
Google is the company most attacked by these emergency applications, which represents 85% of all demands issued worldwide. However, it is worth noting that Google was the only company that revealed emergency applications between 2013 and 2015.
However, experts could register an escalation in emergency applications (see the image above) over the years, with the first quarter of 2024 only to have seen 15 thousand applications.
It is also worth mentioning that, while Google, Microsoft and Apple provide information on the number of emergency applications they receive, goal does not specify it.
The data requests from the users of the United States and the EU
In addition to emergency applications, authorities may require access to user data during criminal investigations. Government agencies can also request online information from citizens for civil or administrative cases.
Surfshark Experts recorded a total of 293 thousand accounts requested only in 2013. By 2020, this number had grown to almost 1.3 million, with a record of more than 2.2 million reached in 2022. After a small decrease in 2023, experts now expect 2024 to be on the way to reach new heights.
As mentioned above, the United States is the country that has been demanding access to citizens’ data, with an average of an account requested by every 100,000 people. However, European countries contribute to the list of 10 main with six regions (Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Poland and Switzerland). Singapore, Brazil and South Korea are also among the 10 main countries that issue user data requests.
Until now, Meta has been the main objective of the authorities, representing 43% of the 12.1 million accounts requested in 2013 in mid -2013. Google was the second most affected company (39%). Microsoft and Apple were the least directed, with 10% and 8% of applications, respectively.
Although the aforementioned numbers represent the data requested by the authorities around the world, the surfshark report also gives us some data on the dissemination rates of companies.
Between 2016 and 2022, Apple opened the road here, with its dissemination rate of 76% to 83%. Although Apple’s fulfillment fell to 79% in 2023, the Google rate began to grow and reached 82% in mid -2024.
“This makes Google currently the company with the highest dissemination rate,” said Surfshark, adding that today’s goal compliance rate is just behind Google.
Despite an increase in the first half of 2024, Microsoft has remained the company that reveals the lower user information since 2018.
How to ensure your confidential data
If you are concerned about your privacy, we recommend you take some steps to minimize the information you share with the great technological giants.
These include using virtual private network software (VPN) every time you navigate the web. Figure your Internet connections while falsifying your real IP address.
However, even more important, you must use privacy -centered alternatives when possible. Proton, for example, offers a range of software to help you eliminate Google from your digital life, including a safe email service, password administrator, encryption calendar and document tool.
Here you can find more tips to get rid of your life, including how to choose a more private and more browser.
