Google Declines To Provide Search Data To DoJ

by Glen Shapiro, LawAndTax-News.com, New York

24 January 2006

Internet search portal, Google has pledged to fight an attempt by the US Department of Justice to obtain search information submitted by its users.

The US authorities are seeking to gather evidence to support the assertion that pornography-filtering software is not effective, and that a 1998 child pornography law needs to be resurrected.

Other search firms, including Yahoo and AOL were also requested to submit search queries to the DoJ late last year, and revealed that they have done so, albeit in a limited way.

However, Google is resisting the Justice Department's fishing expedition "vigorously" according to a statement, a move which last week drove Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to file a motion with a California federal court seeking to force Google to provide the information in question.

The firm was initially asked to give details of every query entered into its search engine between June 1 and July 31, 2005. However, this request was later narrowed to "the text of each search string entered into Google's search engine over a one-week period".

However, according to a Times Online report, counsel for the firm explained that:

"Google acceding to the request would suggest that it is willing to reveal information about those who use its services. This is not a perception Google can accept."

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