Because Two Can Play At That Game…

It appears some governments got a little bit shirty at Google, using their data protection authorities to claim that the internet giant didn’t safeguard users data properly.

Yes, that included the UK, which would seem like a bit of a cheek, under the circumstances.

Unfortunately for them, Google decided to have a bit of fun:

Google has hit out at state attempts to clamp down on the internet by revealing governments' requests to remove data from the web and get information about users.

Tonight it released a web page with a map showing country by country where it has had government requests or court orders to remove content from the YouTube video service or its search results, or to provide details about users of its services.

Heh..!

A Google spokesman insisted that the timing of the release was coincidental with the privacy complaint in a joint letter from data protection authorities from the UK, Canada, Israel, France, Spain, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Germany and the Netherlands. "We've been working on this for months and months," he said.

Of course it was just coincidence. We believe you.

*snicker*