Concerned by the wave of requests for customer data from law enforcement agencies, Google last year set up an online tool showing the frequency of these requests in various countries. In the first half of 2010, it counted more than 4,200 in the United States.

Details.

[Sounds like online network providers don't like responding to criminal investigative requests. In particular, there is a growing resistance to responding to subpoenas rather than search warrants. One of our judges is considering holding the provider in contempt of court for failing to recognize a subpoena signed by the judge. Have you seen similar problems?]

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Many Internet companies and consumer advocates say the main law governing communication privacy — enacted in 1986, before cellphone and e-mail use was widespread, and before social networking was even conceived — is outdated, affording more protection to letters in a file cabinet than e-mail on a server.

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Why shouldn't something sent in a sealed envelope be considered more private than something sent virtually, where the control over the privacy of that item is lost once you hit "send?"