Google Asked to Explain "Orkut Crimes," Soon to Be Subpoenaed Don't put anything here Don't put anything here Page Content Page Name (for URL) Don't put anything here Page Title Breadcrumb Text From [Folha Online](http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/informatica/ult124u19750.shtml), about a week ago (via [ViuIsso?](http://www.lent.com.br/viu/)): > The Federal Public Ministry of São Paulo [approx. "Department of > Justice"] summoned the directors of Google Brazil to explain the > crimes occurring by means of the site [Google] in relationship to Orkut, a > page maintained by the giant site [Google] that dominates the Internet search > sector. [I don't understand why they call Google "a site" and Orkut "a page" rather than calling Orkut "a site" and Google "a company." - Y.T.] > According to the report presented by NGO Safernet > (www.safernet.org.br), the site in questions, the majority (more > than 70%) of whose participants is Brazilian, has been distributing > child pornography, committing crimes against human rights [I think > this means racism - Y.T.] and facilitating drug trafficking. According to [IDG Now](http://idgnow.uol.com.br/internet/2006/03/10/idgnoticia.2006-03-10.3702651831/IDGNoticia_view), Google Brazil people appeared for a meeting on March 10, and said that "Google Brazil has nothing to do with Orkut, which is a service hosted in the United States." In today's news (again, via [ViuIsso](http://www.lent.com.br/viu/)), MPF is now [requesting a subpoena](http://idgnow.uol.com.br/internet/2006/03/17/idgnoticia.2006-03-17.6203364089/IDGNoticia_view) of Google data, which would cover "the creators as well as Brazilian users of virtual communities used for criminal practices." Sounds [familiar](http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6048488.html)? I find this an interesting variation on Google's trouble in the US as well as the recent discussion of MySpace issues. While the latter issues are purely domestic, here we have an American company running a website that is largely Brazilian, and being thus asked to answer Brazilian concerns. (And Orkut _really_ is big in Brazil. It's funny that in US those social networking websites come and go, and people really get burnt out. The Brazilians, however, have been just sticking with Orkut, creating enough of a critical mass where it starts being used for serious purposes - like drug trafficking.) Advanced Fields Category 2002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014E. AsiaE. EuropeL's FamilyL's FriendsN. AmericaN. EuropeS. AmericaS. AsiaW. EuropeY & LY's FamilyY's Friends Prototype Redirect Permissions0 Actions Config Markup Module HTML/Meta/Keywords HTML/Meta/Description Save Hook HTML Fields Main Head Body Header Menu Logo Page Content Template Sidebar Footer Tags Allowed for XSSFilter HTTP Fields Cache-Control Expires Guru Fields Templates Translations Fields Edit UI Admin Edit UI Don't put anything here A summary of your changes Edit Summary Don't put anything here Don't put anything here save preview cancel
