Investigators increasingly ask Google for help - often without success
Swiss investigators requested user data from internet giant Google more than 300 times in the first half of 2018.
The Confederation and cantons have never made more requests to the US Internet company than in the current year, reports the SonntagsBlick. Google turned down every second request, according to the latest Google Transparency Report. The US company remains silent about the reasons for its reluctance. A total of 400 Swiss users were affected by the investigative measures. A spokesperson for the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) said that it was "essential" for law enforcement authorities to have access to the necessary information.
The transparency report does not disclose the suspected cases in which the Swiss authorities contacted Google. According to the newspaper report, the majority of cases are likely to involve fraud, extremism or child pornography. The owner names of email addresses or YouTube accounts as well as search histories can be used to convict criminals. (SDA)
