Discussion on:

Google: government surveillance is on the rise

Which Western nation stands out? You don't reveal this in the article.

"The U.S. made nearly 8,000 requests to Google to hand over user data between January and June 2012, at least three times more than any other national government."

"The U.S. made nearly 8,000 requests to Google to hand over user data between January and June 2012, at least three times more than any other national government."

"Eternal Vigilance is the price of freedom" Which really means we watch the government and not necessarily the other way around. Google now provides the unprecented ability to keep an eye on the government. And thus just as much ability to watch us by the government. Although who should we worrry more about? The government or Google for collecting the info in the first place. Always remember that the government hates competition.
It would be interesting to note what kind of content that the governemt wanted removed from Google. I think Google should track this statistic and post it online as well.

..and can you find out if you are subject to such requests, and if so, the content turned over and the warrant for which the request was honored?

to collect that data, and to snoop on that data, and to use that data for whatever reason Google and governments deem necessary.

People already know about Google's tactics for collecting and datamining and snooping in on that user data, but, most people don't mind or don't bother to complain, which is, in a sense, explicitly granting Google permission to use that data for whatever purposes Google sees fit.

When government requests people's personal information from Google, and people don't raise a stink about it, then, it's another explicit permit granted to Google to hand over that information. If people were to stand up to Google and to the invasion of privacy being perpetrated by government, then, chances are that, we might get more government officials to listen to us and might get some laws and regulations to stop that snooping and invasion of privacy.