March 15, 2006 | Sex & Society

Judge says Google must give up data

If you've recently entered naughty words in or followed links to explicit pictures from  Google, you should know that the U.S. government might soon take notice, as a federal judge has said he'll likely order Google Inc. to release to the feds at least some of its private data.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) subpoenaed Google last year, asking it to release a random sampling of 1 million web addresses accessible through its popular search engine, as well as a random sampling of 1 million search queries submitted by users in a one-week period. The government hopes to use the data to prove that kids have easy access to online porn,  thereby justifying an online anti-porn law that has so far been found to be Unconsitutional.

Google refused to comply, however, citing concerns over users' privacy and the safety of its own trade secrets. As a result, DOJ filed a complaint against the company in January, asking that it be ordered to cooperate with its subpoena.

After hearing arguments from both sides -- during which DOJ reduced the volume of its request significantly to 50,000 URLs and 5,000 search terms, from 1 million of each -- U.S. District Judge James Ware said this week that he will answer that complaint soon and will require a compromise on the issue, according to CNET News.

Wares indicated that he likely will order Google to relinquish a portion of its records, but did not specify whether those records would include users' search terms.

Still, the judge was cautious of being too accommodating. He questioned the government's need to get its information from Google, as opposed to a web analytics company, and expressed concern over the possible effect that granting the government's request would have on privacy rights.

Other search engines, including Yahoo!, MSN and AOL, have complied with DOJ's request for information. Only Google has shown resistance - seems the mega seach engine does have some  respect for its own motto, "Do No Evil."

• Will order Google's surrender of data, judge says [GlobeandMail.com]
• Google porn probe compromise imminent [CNET News]
• Previously: Google stands firm; Feds subpoena Google porn data