Last night I posted at the SEW blog that Brazil To Close Google Brazil's Offices Over Orkut Issues? You see, Google and Brazil don't have such a great recent history. Orkut, Google's social networking platform, has received headlines that include;
- Aug. 16, 2006 :: Orkut Causing Trouble In Brazil Again - Jul. 21, 2005 :: Drug Pushers Using Orkut Arrested In Brazil - May. 25, 2006 :: Google Works With Brazil To Shut Down Orkut Communities - May. 18, 2006 :: Google Faces Criminal Charges For Child Porn & Racial Material - May. 3, 2006 :: Google & Brazil Fight Over Orkut User Data Rights - Mar. 10, 2006 :: Brazil Asks Google To Help Orkut To Stop Organizing Organized Crime - Mar. 9, 2006 :: Al-Qaeda Likes Orkut
Ouch! Well, I think Google has pushed Brazil far enough. The news is now everywhere; Reuters reports that Brazilian prosecutors seek lawsuit against Google.
Brazilian prosecutors asked a federal judge on Tuesday for permission to file a civil lawsuit against Google Inc., alleging it was withholding user information required for a separate criminal investigation.The prosecutors want Google to pay a $61 million fine and asked that if it refuses to comply with its information request, its Brazilian unit be dissolved.
Should be interesting...
Forum discussion at Search Engine Watch Forums.
