The British government requested that Facebook release information on over 2,500 users in a six month period, the social media titan admitted yesterday.

The figures show an increase of 15 per cent in requests for personal data, causing outrage among civil liberties groups.

Liberty's policy officer Rachel Robinson said: "Days after the new GCHQ chief sought to smear tech companies, credit to Facebook for standing up for transparency.

"But goodwill from the private sector can only take us so far.

"Liberty's ongoing legal challenge has revealed gaping holes in the law that allow the Agencies to bulk intercept millions of our personal emails, messages and web chats without warrant."

"A new and transparent law is urgently needed if government is going to begin to restore public trust.

International laws on personal data protection have also increased by 19 per cent, restricting the number of governmental requests for information.