Google-owned Orkut is the subject of a case involving allegedly
homophobic and racist online communities, as well as some involving
child pornography. Orkut is a social networking site with 65% of
its 27 million users based in Brazil.
A judge has demanded that Google hand over data relating to
individuals who have set up online groups he claims involve racism,
homophobia and child pornography. Amongst the data demanded are the
internet addresses of users which can identify the computer used to
make posts and set up accounts.
Google has argued that the data is stored in the US and so is
not subject to Brazilian law, according to news agency Reuters.
"The fact that the data are stored in the United States has no
relevance as all the photographs and messages investigated by the
prosecutors' office were published by Brazilians using internet
connections on the national territory," said federal judge Jose
Lunardelli in his ruling.
