Global government requests to Facebook for user account data rose to 46,763 during the second half of 2015, up from 41,214 requests in the first half of last year, Chris Sonderby, the company deputy general counsel, said in a Thursday news release. He said that the number of items restricted for violating local law rose to 55,827 items during the second half of 2015, up from 20,568 during the first half of last year. "Restricted content in this [second] half is almost entirely due to one photo related to the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris," he said. "The photo was alleged to violate French laws related to protecting human dignity." Access was restricted to more than 32,000 copies of the photo in France alone in response to a legal request from the government there, he added. In the U.S., there were a total of 19,235 government requests -- including court orders, emergency disclosures, search warrants, subpoenas and others -- for 30,041 user accounts during the second half of 2015, Facebook's report said. The social media company had fewer than 500 total national security letter requests for fewer than 500 user accounts during this period -- same as the first-half period. By law, Facebook can provide national security data only in ranges and had to delay releasing data on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act requests, the company said in the report. Sonderby wrote that the company doesn't provide "back doors" or direct access to users' data. Facebook reviews each request "for legal sufficiency" and if it "appears to be deficient or overly broad, we push back hard and will fight in court, if necessary," he added.
Global government requests to Facebook for user account data rose to 46,763 during the second half of 2015, up from 41,214 requests in the first half of last year, Chris Sonderby, the company deputy general counsel, said in a Thursday news release. He said that the number of items restricted for violating local law rose to 55,827 items during the second half of 2015, up from 20,568 during the first half of last year. "Restricted content in this [second] half is almost entirely due to one photo related to the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris," he said. "The photo was alleged to violate French laws related to protecting human dignity." Access was restricted to more than 32,000 copies of the photo in France alone in response to a legal request from the government there, he added. In the U.S., there were a total of 19,235 government requests -- including court orders, emergency disclosures, search warrants, subpoenas and others -- for 30,041 user accounts during the second half of 2015, Facebook's report said. The social media company had fewer than 500 total national security letter requests for fewer than 500 user accounts during this period -- same as the first-half period. By law, Facebook can provide national security data only in ranges and had to delay releasing data on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act requests, the company said in the report. Sonderby wrote that the company doesn't provide "back doors" or direct access to users' data. Facebook reviews each request "for legal sufficiency" and if it "appears to be deficient or overly broad, we push back hard and will fight in court, if necessary," he added.
Global government requests to Facebook for user account data rose to 46,763 during the second half of 2015, up from 41,214 requests in the first half of last year, Chris Sonderby, the company deputy general counsel, said in a Thursday news release. He said that the number of items restricted for violating local law rose to 55,827 items during the second half of 2015, up from 20,568 during the first half of last year. "Restricted content in this [second] half is almost entirely due to one photo related to the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris," he said. "The photo was alleged to violate French laws related to protecting human dignity." Access was restricted to more than 32,000 copies of the photo in France alone in response to a legal request from the government there, he added. In the U.S., there were a total of 19,235 government requests -- including court orders, emergency disclosures, search warrants, subpoenas and others -- for 30,041 user accounts during the second half of 2015, Facebook's report said. The social media company had fewer than 500 total national security letter requests for fewer than 500 user accounts during this period -- same as the first-half period. By law, Facebook can provide national security data only in ranges and had to delay releasing data on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act requests, the company said in the report. Sonderby wrote that the company doesn't provide "back doors" or direct access to users' data. Facebook reviews each request "for legal sufficiency" and if it "appears to be deficient or overly broad, we push back hard and will fight in court, if necessary," he added.
The House Commerce Committee approved nine telecom bills Thursday despite dissent from Democrats regarding FCC process overhaul bills that were revived for this markup in addition to concerns on amendments to the Kelsey Smith Act (HR-4889) and Kari’s Law Act (HR-4167). As expected (see 1604270060), Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., unsuccessfully tried to secure location technology provisions in the Kari’s Law Act and blasted the HR-2592 FCC process overhaul measure.
The House Commerce Committee approved nine telecom bills Thursday despite dissent from Democrats regarding FCC process overhaul bills that were revived for this markup in addition to concerns on amendments to the Kelsey Smith Act (HR-4889) and Kari’s Law Act (HR-4167). As expected (see 1604270060), Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., unsuccessfully tried to secure location technology provisions in the Kari’s Law Act and blasted the HR-2592 FCC process overhaul measure.
Federal transportation regulators heard from a slew of automakers, consumer protection advocates, disability rights activists, technology executives and other stakeholders all day Wednesday about the benefits of autonomous vehicles and potential missteps if important safety issues aren't considered. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration held the public meeting at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, as the agency develops operational guidance on self-driving cars.
Federal transportation regulators heard from a slew of automakers, consumer protection advocates, disability rights activists, technology executives and other stakeholders all day Wednesday about the benefits of autonomous vehicles and potential missteps if important safety issues aren't considered. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration held the public meeting at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, as the agency develops operational guidance on self-driving cars.
Federal transportation regulators heard from a slew of automakers, consumer protection advocates, disability rights activists, technology executives and other stakeholders all day Wednesday about the benefits of autonomous vehicles and potential missteps if important safety issues aren't considered. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration held the public meeting at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, as the agency develops operational guidance on self-driving cars.
Wednesday’s Senate Commerce Committee markup may portend well for the FCC Reauthorization Act (S-2644) and less well for the FCC Process Reform Act (S-421), Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, told us. Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., said last week he’s trying to keep FCC reauthorization narrowly focused (see 1604210057) and emphasized that goal again Tuesday when telling us of his goals for a hotline. The markup is 10:15 a.m. Wednesday in 253 Russell. Senate staffers contended with at least 39 amendments filed for the FCC Reauthorization Act and at least eight filed for the FCC Process Reform Act.
Wednesday’s Senate Commerce Committee markup may portend well for the FCC Reauthorization Act (S-2644) and less well for the FCC Process Reform Act (S-421), Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, told us. Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., said last week he’s trying to keep FCC reauthorization narrowly focused (see 1604210057) and emphasized that goal again Tuesday when telling us of his goals for a hotline. The markup is 10:15 a.m. Wednesday in 253 Russell. Senate staffers contended with at least 39 amendments filed for the FCC Reauthorization Act and at least eight filed for the FCC Process Reform Act.