Justice Department responds to Google's privacy concerns

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ The Bush administration would still like to find out what people are looking up on Google. <br/><br/>The Justice Department has filed its response to the Internet search company's

Monday, February 27th 2006, 9:37 am

By: News On 6

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ The Bush administration would still like to find out what people are looking up on Google.

The Justice Department has filed its response to the Internet search company's refusal to comply with a request for that information. A federal court hearing is scheduled in San Jose, California, March 13th.

The government thinks the information would bolster the case for an online child-protection law blocked by the Supreme Court by showing that Internet filters can't keep kids from seeing porn and other inappropriate material.

Google sees the request as an unwarranted violation of privacy rights.

In its brief, the Justice Department notes that the information the government wants would not identify people by name, just what they're looking up.

Still, privacy advocates are worried Internet search engines could become tools for government snooping.