The number of requests by investigative agencies for information from the nation’s Web-portal giants ― Naver and Daum Kakao ― have steadily increased over the years, raising public concern about the government’s infringement on users’ privacy online.
The number of search and seizure warrants for user information increased 6.3 times from 1,487 in 2012 to 9,342 in 2014, according to a transparency report released by Naver on Thursday. Around 9,244 warrants were issued in 2013. 
“The requests for warrants to be issued seem to have increased as firms are reluctant to comply with providing user names or resident registration numbers without warrants,” a Naver official said.
Daum Kakao saw the number of search and seizure warrants increase from 2,174 in 2012 to 8,636 in 2014 (4,772 for the Web-portal Daum and 3,864 for mobile messenger KakaoTalk), according to its transparency report released on Friday.
Jumping on the bandwagon, the two Korean Internet firms have started publishing annual privacy reports every year since 2012, but the two disclosed more detailed statistics for the requests this year.
Daum Kakao included requests for removal of personal information, defamation and infringement of copyright and trademark by the government agencies in its report.
“Transparency reports are a fundamental yet crucial part of the corporation’s efforts to protect user privacy,” said Lee Sir-goo, co-CEO of Daum Kakao.
“In addition to developing innovative and convenient services, everyone at Daum Kakao will make every effort to protect user information and minimize privacy violations,” he added.
Google, Facebook and Twitter are among Internet firms that release transparency reports on a regular basis.
The number of inquiries for user data of Google, Facebook and Twitter by the Korean government or state investigative agencies stood at 416, 13 and 6, respectively, in the first half of 2014. The figures in the cited period were also up from those in the past.
A civil group official said “the increasing number of the requests showed the government and the authorities are beefing up their vigilance in the cyber-realm, which raises public concerns over violations of privacy.”
By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)
