Google has released details, for the first time, about how often countries around the world ask it to hand over user data or to censor information. Brazil tops the list with 3,663 data requests while the US made 3,580 and the U.K came a distant third with 1,166. Last month, the internet giant pulled its search engine out of China over online censorship issues. Google said it cannot provide statistics on requests from China which are regarded as state secrets. Brazil also made the highest number of requests to Google to remove content with 291 calls between July and December 2009. In second place was Germany with 188, India with 142 and the US with 123 requests. The search giant has launched an online tool breaking down the figures which it hopes will be just the first step toward increased transparency.