Latest update to Google's refusal to submit to a fishing expedition.

Judge to Order Google to Turn Over Some Records

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Google Inc.'s legal showdown with the Bush administration over the right to protect the privacy of its audience and trade secrets appears to be tilting in the Internet search engine's favor, even though a federal judge has signaled he will order the company to turn over some records to the government.

U.S. District Court Judge James Ware repeatedly emphasized his sensitivity to Google's concerns during a Tuesday court hearing. It concluded with Ware saying he intends to give the U.S. Justice Department a peek at a sliver of the online search engine leader's vast database.

T. Barton Carter, a communications and law professor at Boston University, said the concerns raised by Ware should be heartening to privacy rights advocates, but cautioned against reading too much into the judge's comments until he releases his order.

''What's going to be important is whether he limits the information (given to the government) and whether he explains why he drew the line where he did,'' Carter said.

I was pleased to see the update, and thought that you would wanna know.
--MissM
Judge to Order Google to Turn Over Records - New York Times
Hat tip to Sue.