For those concerned about their privacy, last week was an important one. January 28th was Data Privacy Day, with many organizations releasing transparency reports that highlighted how and with whom user information is being shared. For example, both Google and Twitter made public their transparency reports, highlighting how they responded to official requests for user information. These reports indicate which governments have been requesting data from these sites, how often these requests are made, and how often any data is actually turned over.

These requests come as studies show that users are becoming more concerned about their privacy in general. An independent Ponemon study found that users in the United States are more concerned than ever before about the privacy of their personal information, with 78% of respondents agreeing. At the same time, fewer users feel that they do have control of their information, with only 35% agreeing with the statement.

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