Tag Archives: yahoo
FISA request roundup: where and how often has the government been mining user data?
As much as the federal government would like it to, the public outrage at the scope of its PRISM program has yet to die down, despite any good the program may have served in the interests of national and local security. The revelations made by Edward Snowden have cast a bright light on the powers granted our government by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and many companies are taking the opportunity to push the feds to let them tell the public just how many governmental data requests are being made. Of course, no company can release exactly how many requests were made under FISA — companies can only publish the number of total data requests, whether they be from the NSA, local law enforcement or elsewhere. Since so many of Silicon Valley’s giants have been dishing our data to Uncle Sam on the sly, we figured we’d bring you all the numbers in one place.
At the top of the request list is Yahoo, which received between 12-13,000 requests in the first six months of 2013. During that same time period, Apple received between 4-5,000 requests. Meanwhile, Google reported 8,438 requests between July and December of 2012, Facebook received between 9-10,000 and Microsoft was asked for its users data between 6-7,000 times. Prefer pictures to numbers? A colorful chart awaits after the break.
Filed under: Internet, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook
Source: Yahoo!, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Twitter
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FISA request roundup: where and how often has the government been mining user data?
FISA request roundup: Who has Uncle Sam asked to see your data, and how often?
As much as the federal government would like it to, the public outrage at the scope of its PRISM program has yet to die down, despite any good the program may have served in the interests of national and local security. The revelations made by Edward Snowden have cast a bright light on the powers granted our government by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and many companies are taking the opportunity to push the feds to let them tell the public just how many governmental data requests are being made. Of course, no company can release exactly how many requests were made under FISA — companies can only publish the number of total data requests, whether they be from the NSA, local law enforcement or elsewhere. Since so many of Silicon Valley’s giants have been dishing our data to Uncle Sam on the sly, we figured we’d bring you all the numbers in one place.
At the top of the request list is Yahoo, which received between 12-13,000 requests in the first six months of 2013. During that same time period, Apple received between 4-5,000 requests. Meanwhile, Google reported 8,438 requests between July and December of 2012, Facebook received between 9-10,000 and Microsoft was asked for its users data between 6-7,000 times. Prefer pictures to numbers? A colorful chart awaits after the break.
Filed under: Internet, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Facebook
Source: Yahoo!, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Twitter
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FISA request roundup: Who has Uncle Sam asked to see your data, and how often?
New Android apps worth downloading: Cloud Print, StudyBlue, Beejumbled
Google’s newly released Cloud Print app lets Android users send documents and photos to their Wi-Fi connected printers. It’s a handy app that’s usefulness propelled it to the lead position on today’s Apps Worth Downloading list. Following Cloud Print is StudyBlue, an app for making study flashcards and connecting with other students to help maximize study efficiency. Finally, Beejumbled puts a new twist on Boggle-like word scramble games.
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New Android apps worth downloading: Cloud Print, StudyBlue, Beejumbled
Yahoo discloses US government data request stats: over 12,000 in six months
Yahoo has just revealed just how many government requests for data it’s received in the past six months, and it’s beaten out Apple, Microsoft and Facebook. Marissa Mayer and General Counsel Ron Bell noted in a Tumblr post that the search giant received between 12,000 and 13,000 requests, “inclusive of criminal, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and other requests,” between December 1st, 2012 and May 31st, 2013. According to Mayer and Bell, the majority of requests relate to “fraud, homicides, kidnappings, and other criminal investigations.” Naturally, Yahoo notes that it can’t specify how many FISA requests are in that figure due to their classified nature, but it “strongly urge(s) the federal government to reconsider its stance on this issue.”
Mayer and Co. also announced that their first “global law enforcement transparency report” will debut later in the summer, and will include data on the first half of 2013. It’s not a one-time occurrence either — the firm plans to update the dossier twice each year.
Source: Yahoo (Tumblr)
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Yahoo discloses US government data request stats: over 12,000 in six months
New Android apps worth downloading: Foursquare and Yahoo! Sports updates, Despicable Me: Minion Rush
We’ve got a pair of updates leading the charge on today’s apps worth downloading list. First is an update to Foursquare, the social location app, which makes its search function even more functional. Also on the list is Yahoo! Sports, which was formerly known as Sportacular and has received a big update to bring users even more sports information and news. Finally, Despicable Me: Minion Rush brings some new ideas to the runner genre to tie in with the new Despicable Me film.
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New Android apps worth downloading: Foursquare and Yahoo! Sports updates, Despicable Me: Minion Rush
