Google’s latest transparency report reveals that in the 2nd half of 2012, the U.S. government increased its number of user information requests by 6% over the 1st half, making 8,438 information requests from approximately 14,868 users for the year. The report also reveals that 68% of these requests are made by subpoena under the outdated Electronic Communications Privacy ACT (ECPA), which typically requires no judicial approval.
http://techcrunch.com/2013/01/23/governments-requesting-more-private-data-from-google/
Read Google’s latest transparency report: http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/userdatarequests/
Read the ACLU blog on Google’s transparency report: http://www.aclu.org/blog/technology-and-liberty-free-speech-national-security/hurray-google-transparency-now-where