Facebook reveals how many times governments requested data in 2016

Around the world, governments submitted more requests for data on Facebook users in the first half of 2016.

But, despite it being a time of political turmoil, they also asked for fewer posts to be taken down, according Facebook’s biannual transparency report.

Requests for data rose 27 percent from January to June 2016, up from 46,710 to 59,229 requests, compared to the first half of 2015.

More than half of requests from U.S. law enforcement contained a non-disclosure agreement, meaning that users would not be notified.

On the opposite spectrum, Facebook saw a steep drop in requests for content restrictions on the social network. The number of requests for Facebook to remove items that violated local law decreased by 83 percent from 55,829 to 9,633. For the first half of 2015, Facebook received requests for 20,568 pieces of content.

Facebook attributed the significant decline primarily to last year's number being elevated by a "single image" from the terrorist attacks in Paris on Nov. 13, 2015.

Newly added to the disclosure process, Facebook said it received 3,016 emergency requests, where the company shares relevant information to law enforcement if the matter involves "imminent risk of serious injury or death."

Facebook's Deputy General Counsel Chris Sonderby, who penned the report, said the company continues to scrutinizes every government request for user data, no matter the country, and will not hesitate to challenge them.

Sonderby also reiterated its stance to not provide a so-called "back door" or direct access into user information.

"We do not provide governments with 'back doors' or direct access to people’s information," Sonderby wrote. "We’ll also keep working with partners in industry and civil society to push governments around the world to reform surveillance in a way that protects their citizens’ safety and security while respecting their rights and freedoms."