Meta received over 800k user data requests from governments in 2022

According to recent findings by Atlas VPN, government requests for user data from Meta are on the rise.

In 2022, Meta received 476,802 user data requests from governments worldwide. A total of 827,927 user data records were requested by governments, marking a significant growth of 16% compared to 2021 and a whopping 971% rise since 2013.

Meta disclosed at least some data in response to 76.45% of all requests.

The numbers are derived from the Meta transparency report, which features the government requests for user data since the year 2013, including both routine legal processes and emergency disclosure requests. The user data requests include two metrics: the number of requests a company receives from authorities and the number of accounts specified within those requests.

In the first half of 2022, governments worldwide filed 237,414 requests demanding data of 412,285 Meta users. In the year's second half, the number of data requests increased to 239,388, while the number of requested accounts rose to 415,642.

Since 2013, Meta received a total of 2,247,594 government requests concerning 3,629,299 user accounts.

Countries where governments requested user data the most

In 2022, Meta received user data requests from governments in over 130 countries. However, the distribution of requests varied, with certain countries submitting more requests than others.

The United States government leads the way in terms of both the number of requests and the volume of user data requested. In 2022, Meta received data requests from the US government concerning 236,928 platform users, representing a 10% increase compared to the previous year. That equates to approximately 70.04 requests per 100,000 people.

In 2022 alone, the US government placed 133,511 user data requests to Meta, with the company at least partially complying with 88.07% of these requests.

Germany ranks second with 62.11 account requests per 100,000 people. The German government filed requests for 51,783 Meta user accounts in 2022, placing the country in the fourth spot in terms of the total number of government requests.

Meanwhile, Israel occupies the third spot on the list with 60.50 accounts requested per 100,000 people, just ahead of Brazil.

Other countries in the top 10 include Brazil, with 56.24 accounts requested per 100,000 people, Singapore with 49.20, France with 46.66, Poland with 37.81, United Kingdom with 37.38, Taiwan with 34.04, and Belgium, with 31.45.

India also stands out regarding the sheer volume of account requests, as the country's government submitted a staggering 119,349 requests pertaining to 198,015 Meta user accounts in 2022 — a 32% rise from the previous year. However, the request count per 100,000 population amounts to a relatively lower figure of 13.97.