Governments are increasingly demanding more information about Twitter users

Twitter reported Monday an increase in requests for information about its users from government authorities during the second half of 2012.

From early July to late December, Twitter received 1,009 such requests an increase of nearly 20% compared to the first semester according to the second report of "transparency" released Monday by the U.S. social network.

The Internet giant Google released similar statistics for several years, which also show an increase in government oversight. He mentioned last week 21,389 applications for the second semester.

"These increased demands may have a negative effect on freedom of expression. And real implications on the protection of personal data, "said Jeremy Kessel, responsible for legal matters in Twitter, in a blog post on the official site.

Being transparent, Twitter seeks to "raise public awareness of these requests invasive" and "allow legislators to make decisions in a more informed," he added.

Twitter said that the largest share of requests for information (815) came from the United States.

It clarifies be accessed in 57% of cases overall, and 69% of those who were held in the United States. He claims to have warned the users concerned, except in about 20% of cases where a court order forbidding him.

The number of content removal requests rose from 6 in the first half of 2012 to 42 at the second, but the number of publications notification of violating copyright fell from 3378 to 3268, according to the report.