In a case involving child pornography, Google has refused to comply with a subpoena requesting search records for any one-week period.
Google’s privacy guidlines state that they will comply with any “enforceable government request” or to “protect against imminent harm to the rights… [of Google’s] users or the public.
We have a good faith belief that access, use, preservation or disclosure of such information is reasonably necessary to (a) satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process or enforceable governmental request, (b) enforce applicable Terms of Service, including investigation of potential violations thereof, (c) detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security or technical issues, or (d) protect against imminent harm to the rights, property or safety of Google, its users or the public as required or permitted by law
It seems that Yahoo, MSN and AOL have already complied.
The information being requested does not include any personal search habits and therefore no information regarding who is searching for what would be provided.
As a dad, I sympathize with the governments case. We don’t let our kids jump on the computer any time they want and start performing Google searches, simply because I know that porn can come up anywhere and I simply don’t want my kids exposed to that (as much as can be helped.) Yeah, we got filters, but those are not always effective. If the Government can make a case and create a law that will more effectively block pornographic content from being placed in front of children, then I’m all for it.