Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Loading...Time left: ...
Loading...Goal: $500
Fact check: Https://proton.me/blog/big-tech-data-requests-surge
Checked on March 3, 2025
1. Summary of the results
The data shows an unprecedented surge in government surveillance through tech companies over the past decade. Specifically:
- Google, Meta, and Apple saw increases of 530%, 675%, and 621% respectively from 2014-2024 [1]
- These companies disclosed information on over 3.16 million accounts in under a decade [1]
- Global requests grew from 1.6 million to 2.2 million between 2013-2022 [2]
- The US government made nearly 500,000 requests to just Google and Meta in the last 12 months - more than all other 14 Eyes Alliance members combined [1]
- The global disclosure rate is approximately 72%, with Apple having the highest rate at 83% [2]
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several crucial contextual elements are worth noting:
- The increase has remained consistent across different political administrations, suggesting this is a systematic trend rather than a partisan issue [3]
- FISA content requests to Meta and Google have seen dramatic increases of 2,171% and 594% respectively, often with limited judicial oversight [3]
- Surveillance technologies have evolved significantly, moving from basic monitoring to sophisticated systems involving CCTV, drones, and AI-powered analytics [4]
- Even privacy-focused companies like ProtonMail, despite marketing based on "strict Swiss privacy laws," must comply with legal data requests through their local legal systems [5]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original blog post, coming from Proton, should be considered in light of several factors:
- As a privacy-focused company, Proton has a vested business interest in highlighting surveillance concerns
- While the data presented appears accurate (corroborated by multiple sources), it's worth noting that Proton itself complies with legal data requests when required [5]
- The surveillance increase might be presented as purely negative, but there are potential benefits for public safety that need to be considered alongside privacy risks [4]
- The focus on raw numbers might overshadow the complex balance between legitimate law enforcement needs and privacy rights
Want to dive deeper?
Jamal Roberts gave away his winnings to an elementary school.
Did a theater ceiling really collapse in the filming of the latest Final Destination?
Is Rachel Zegler suing South Park?