A new analysis shows millions of accounts were affected as surveillance authorities and data-sharing practices expanded over the past decade.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A report from digital privacy firm Proton indicates a significant increase in the number of social media and technology user accounts shared with the U.S. government, highlighting expanding data requests across major platforms.
According to the Proton report, companies including Apple, Google, and Meta disclosed data tied to more than 3.5 million user accounts between late 2024 and early 2025. When broader disclosures under federal surveillance authorities are included, the total number of affected accounts between 2014 and 2024 rises to approximately 6.7 million.
The analysis points to a substantial increase in reporting since technology firms began publishing transparency data on government requests. Proton estimates that disclosures have surged by 927% at Apple, 557% at Google, and 668% at Meta over the past decade.
During the first half of 2025 alone, the three companies collectively provided data related to more than 282,000 U.S.-based accounts.
The report also highlights growth in requests tied to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. According to Proton, FISA-related content requests rose by 2,486% at Meta and 649% at Google between 2014 and 2024. Apple reported a 443% increase between 2018 and 2024.
The expansion of data sharing has occurred under multiple administrations, as noted in coverage by Bloomberg. A White House spokesperson said, “The Trump administration continues to champion the right to privacy for Americans and American data by encouraging secure technologies and supply chains that protect user privacy from design to deployment.”
The findings arrive as debate continues over the scope of federal surveillance authorities. Critics have raised concerns about the use of FISA, particularly Section 702, which allows intelligence agencies to collect data on foreign targets but may also capture information involving U.S. citizens.
Section 702 is scheduled to expire on April 20 but remains under consideration for renewal. President Donald Trump indicated support for an extension in a Truth Social post, backing an 18-month continuation that would retain existing reforms.
Lawmakers have expressed concern about the implications of expanded data collection. Sen. Ron Wyden said the scale of information held by technology companies makes them a frequent target for government access.
“It’s clear that the biggest tech companies are a frequent and growing target for government surveillance,” Wyden said. “A handful of companies are collecting huge amounts of information about Americans’ lives, so it is natural that they are a tempting target for law enforcement and intelligence agencies.”
“Unless Congress passes strong new guardrails to protect Americans’ rights, that information will inevitably be abused,” he added.
Technology companies have responded by outlining their internal review processes. Google stated that it evaluates each government request and challenges those it considers overly broad, noting that it publishes details through its Transparency Report. Meta indicated that while the volume of requests has increased, its compliance rate has remained consistent.
The report also comes amid ongoing scrutiny of government interactions with technology firms, including past efforts to influence content moderation policies during public health emergencies.
As lawmakers consider the future of surveillance authorities, the data underscores the scale and growth of government access to user information held by major technology platforms.
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