Court demands user data from Google-owned firm

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.