Web Companies Reveal NSA Requests

With the partial blessing of the federal government, major websites have started releasing data on the National Security Agency’s requests about users. Last month, the government said companies could disclose more information regarding the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court orders they receive. During the first half of 2013, between 15,000 and 15,999 Microsoft accounts, 9,000 and 9,999 Google accounts, and 5,000 to 5,999 Facebook accounts were subject to FISA requests. “We have not received the type of bulk data requests that are commonly discussed publicly regarding telephone records,” Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith said. If you use Yahoo, though, the government apparently thinks you’re up to no good: 30,000 to 30,999 of its accounts were subject to FISA content requests.