Apple, Google, and Meta are providing more data to the US government than at any previous time.

      Many of us keep and share vast amounts of personal information online, ranging from our names and addresses to pictures of our families. In this context, companies like Apple, Google, and Meta act as the guardians of this sensitive data. But what occurs when government authorities make requests? It seems that Silicon Valley frequently submits to such inquiries.

      Over the past decade, Apple, Google, and Meta have turned over information related to 3.1 million accounts to the US government, as outlined in a recent report by Swiss software company Proton.

      The frequency of user data requests from Big Tech has surged by an average of 600% during this period, according to Proton's findings. Meta experienced the highest increase in data sharing at 675%, followed by Apple at 621%, and Google at 530%.

      Proton reports that Apple, Google, and Meta comply with 80-90% of data requests from US authorities, which may involve sharing user emails, files, messages, and other highly sensitive information.

      While requests for data also rose from countries like Germany, France, and the UK, the US accounted for the majority. Raphael Auphan, COO of Proton, stated, "All that's needed for the government to access almost any information it desires is a request to Big Tech in California. And unless Big Tech implements widespread end-to-end encryption, these vast private data stores will remain vulnerable to misuse."

      Data sharing with US authorities has increased significantly since 2014. Credit: Proton

      Proton, recognized for its services such as ProtonMail, ProtonVPN, and ProtonDrive, has established itself as a privacy-centric alternative to major tech companies. However, it too fulfills numerous government requests for user data.

      In its own transparency report, Proton noted that it received 13 data requests from Swiss authorities in 2017, which skyrocketed to 6,378 by 2024. It complied with 5,971 of those requests, amounting to 93%—a figure that surpasses the compliance rates of the major tech companies mentioned in the latest report.

      Unlike Silicon Valley's giants, Proton encrypts emails, files, and VPN traffic such that even the company cannot access them. Therefore, even if agencies demand data, there is little they can supply.

      A Proton spokesperson informed TNW, “We cannot share emails, files, contact lists, calendar entries, or other personal content under any circumstances. We cannot disclose what we do not possess.”

      Additionally, Proton adheres to stringent Swiss privacy regulations, meaning foreign governments must first obtain permission from Swiss courts before requesting data from the company, providing an additional layer of security for users.

      However, under certain conditions, Proton can share metadata related to accounts, including IP addresses, email addresses, and recipient emails.

      The spokesperson remarked, “Proton is committed to safeguarding user privacy, but that does not imply it is a refuge for illegal activities. Proton must comply with national laws and has legal obligations unless there are legal grounds to contest them, which rarely occurs in Switzerland.”