1) Google traffic status between Jan 2009 and the present (with the data normalised so as to represent, in Google's words, "disruptions in the free flow of information, whether it's a government blocking information or a cable being cut").
2) Requests for user data that Google has received from governments around the world, across two six-month periods: July '09 to Dec '09 and Jan '10 to Jun '10.
3) Requests made by governments for removal of items from Google services, across the abovementioned periods.
All of this information comes with a set of caveats, which I've read and which seem basically reasonable. I'm sure they could be revealing more, but they say that that's their intention and I see no reason to doubt them. Yet. If you haven't already guessed, nestled among the data are sections that specifically apply to Malaysia, which is what makes this sort of semi-juicy.
Item 1 is of less immediate interest than items 2 and 3, since it's difficult to tell whether any given plunge in the 'free flow of information' resulted from infrastructural failure or nefarious machinations. The only way, as far as I can see, would be to compare the dates of all the plunges with outages recorded by ISPs, whether resulting from faults within the country (we all heart Streamyx, don't we?) or without (undersea cables vandalised by Crab-People, etc). Anyone who has the stamina to scour the data for outages that can't be attributed to infastructure is welcome to do so.
Still, I noticed one or two intriguing things, although I don't know how meaningful they actually are. For example, Malaysia seems to have encountered some big traffic problem on Sept 21 2009. In Singapore, there's a remarkable drop in Google searches recorded between May 31 2010 and June 01 2010; it only affects searches (so YouTube, GMail and so forth don't show a similar plunge), and there doesn't seem to have been any recovery yet. Curiously, while the traffic flow graph for Malaysia across any given time period seems to be similar for all the various Google services, the graph for Singapore differs quite widely for different services, even within the same period. So Blogger shows a far more steady decline than the one experienced by Google searches; so does YouTube, while GMail seems to be roaring on, all systems go. Anyone got any ideas what this might possibly mean?
As for items 2 and 3, which I find much more interesting to browse through, some intriguing facts come to light. Firstly, the Malaysian government doesn't seem to have any interest in getting information from Google, or getting Google to take stuff down. Our lot notched up fewer than 10 requests for removal from July - Dec 2009, none at all this year, and haven't made a single request for user data throughout the entire documented period.
The US government has made the most actual requests, and a lot of people are getting quite worked up about this, but I thought it might be interesting to look at per capita data requests instead. Being an incurable lazybum, though, I only did the sums for the Jan - Jun 2010 period. Unsurprisingly, Singapore finishes high - second place, in fact - in terms of per capita user data requests, but - I actually find this a bit ominous - never racks up any removal requests. First place for user data requests per capita, though, goes to the UK - equally unsurprising, considering the entrenched snoopery fostered through the long dark years of Nu-Labourism.
Of course, the fact that Malaysia hasn't really turned to Google in any significant way could indicate any number of things; maybe it's a sign of decency, or it might just mean that Dr. M's business-minded 'no Net censorship' policy is still pretty much intact. Or perhaps Malaysia's authorities are just too incompetent to get their act together with regards to Google and all things online. Whatever it is, I've no doubt the speculation will be at least mildly diverting.
"All of this information comes with a set of caveats, which I've read and which seem basically reasonable. I'm sure they could be revealing more, but they say that that's their intention and I see no reason to doubt them."
ReplyDeleteSorry, unclear on what you are stating is 'their intention.'
Also, I think the Malaysian dip in traffic was on Sept 9-11. However, instead of linking this nefariously to 9/11, I will link it to Hari Raya instead, which fell on the 10th:)
Have to think about the Singapore data though.
As for user data requests, I presume the stats are for how many individual users' data was requested in that time and that was how you read it as well.
In any case, our information minister is #yorais. i bet he doesn't even know he can request google for stuff.
By 'their intention', I mean that it's their intention to reveal more eventually.
ReplyDeleteAlso, although there was a dip in traffic on between September 9 and 11 this year, I was talking about September 21 last year, when a bigger dip took place.
Will not comment on the rest of it.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Raya hypothesis, I think it's got some merit. My brother spoke of TMnet Streamyx turning into TMnut Screamyx during the said period.
Suspicions were around the fact that there was no moon in the sky, so data flow was disrupted. Other suspected that cables were stolen by scrap dealers' mercenaries who are in need for duit raya and TMnet technicians were on holidays so they cannot replace them. There were also talks of substations got flooded, a usual case in Malaysia and technicians on holiday also. Maybe it's the crabman issue.
Whatever it is, there was definitely a huge disruption around that time.
Good luck discussing the rest.
Oh, Sept 21, 2009... must go back in history a bit. Will be back with more on this post.
ReplyDeleteActually, one wonders why the press in Malaysia have not picked up on this, especially the pro-Gamen ones given that this is a way to trumpet Malaysia's openness, bla bla bla.
actually, sept 21 last year was also hari raya. why the dip was bigger... not sure. maybe tmnet were even less prepared for lack of manpower in 2009 than they were this year. so here's hoping they do a lot better in 2011 when i think azmi and probably myself will be back home.
ReplyDelete