Twitter executives say government requests for information about users has risen by almost 20 percent in the past six months, from 849 in the first half of 2012 to 1,009 in the second half.
Twitter released the information in support of more “transparency” for users, according to statements in an Agence France-Presse report.
“We believe the open exchange of information can have a positive global impact,” said Twitter’s legal policy manager, Jeremy Kessel, in a blog post. “To that end, it is vital for us to be transparent about government requests for user information.”
Those requests, Mr. Kessel admitted, “can have a serious chilling effect on free expression,” as well as on privacy concerns.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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