Huge rise in requests for people's online data in Ireland

The report cites comments from law enforcement on the benefits of accessing data, from the likes of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Google, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Twitter, in investigating serious crimes.

There has been a 160% jump in requests to online corporations based here from Irish agencies seeking details on people's internet data.

The bulk of the requests are believed to come from law enforcement in other EU states, which must be processed in Ireland as the European headquarters of the tech giants are located here.