Twitter, Apple increasingly refuse Dutch prosecutor's data requests

Social media companies like Twitter, Yahoo and Apple are increasingly denying requests for information from the Dutch Public Prosecutor, the Financieele Dagblad reports based on its own an analysis of the various technology companies' transparency reports.

Yahoo and Twitter did not agree to a single request last year. Apple is also agreeing to fewer and fewer requests for information. Facebook on the other hand, is quite generous in providing information.

The social media companies are not required to provide requested information, according to FD. Providing the information is entirely voluntary. If a request is denied, the Public Prosecutor can still turn to court to try and force the information to be provided.

Technology companies have been publishing the figures on information requests received every 6 months since 2013. Between then and end 2016 the number of information requests doubled.