Google Summoned in Brazil

Orkut, a chat room service provided by Google, has around 14 million registered users, nearly 73 percent of whom say they are Brazilian (Reuters). It's understandable that's why Google will be asked to hearings by Brazil Goverment.

Google Inc.'s Brazilian unit has been asked to appear before authorities on Friday to explain what the company was doing to curb crimes allegedly being committed through its Orkut chat rooms.

The Web search engine's Brazil spokesman confirmed that the unit, Google Brasil, had received a summons from the Public Ministry, but he declined to give details. The Public Ministry is similar to a U.S. attorney general's office.

The summons came after a complaint was filed with the ministry by the nongovernmental organization Safernet, http://www.safernet.org.br, which monitors crime on the Internet.(link)