GitHub's 2014 Transparency Report

In 2014, GitHub released its first transparency report detailing the legal requests it received, including subpoenas, court orders, search warrants, national security orders, and takedown requests. The report categorizes these requests into two main types: disclosure requests, which require disclosing user information, and takedown requests, which involve removing or blocking content. While GitHub handles subpoenas and other disclosure requests with heightened privacy concerns, it strives to be as transparent as possible, despite often being legally restricted from notifying affected users. The report highlights that only a small fraction of GitHub's 8 million active accounts were impacted by such requests. Additionally, GitHub addresses takedown requests under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and government requests, such as those from foreign authorities like Russia's Roskomnadzor, by blocking content regionally when necessary and posting notices publicly. GitHub remains committed to transparency by continually updating its practices and releasing annual reports to inform users about how legal requests could affect their projects.