Google and Child Porn
Nassau County Legislator Jeffrey Toback is
suing Google because the search engine is allegedly profiting from child
pornography and taking in billions of pounds by allowing child
pornography and "other obscene content" adverts on their sites through sponsored
links. The
lawsuit says that Google is "the largest and most efficient facilitator and
distributor of child pornography in the world." Google "continues to put
its economic gains ahead of the interests and well-being of America's children,"
the lawsuit, filed in Nassau State Supreme Court alleges.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald Google spokesman Steve
Langdon responded: "Child pornography is illegal, and Google prohibits it in our
products. When we find or are made aware of any child pornography, we remove it
from our products, including our search engine. We also report it to the
appropriate law enforcement officials and fully co-operate with the law
enforcement community to combat child pornography".
As for the lawsuit's chances of success, they seem to
be very small, see Goldman, Eric,
Google Sued for Child Porn--Toback v. Google, Technology & Marketing Law
Blog
Toback v. Google, Inc., No.
06-007246 (NY Sup. Ct.
complaint
filed May 4, 2006)
-
May 10, 2006:
Google accused of profiting from child porn,
The Register:
"Google has been sued by Nassau County Legislator Jeffrey Toback who
claims the search giant is promoting and profiting from child pornography,
going so far as to suggest that child porn is part of its business model,
according to reports."
-
May 5, 2006: Broache, Anne, Suit
accuses Google of profiting from child porn, CNet:
"Google has made child pornography an "obscenely profitable and integral
part" of its business and must be stopped, a new lawsuit claims."