Google turns over Orkut data to Brazil authorities

Google Inc. is actively complying with requests for data about its Orkut social networking service ordered by Brazilian courts, the company said Thursday.

Google has provided Brazilian authorities with data about Orkut users in response to 30 court orders, and it plans to respond to eight more orders before their deadlines expire, said Debbie Frost, a Google spokeswoman.

Brazilian prosecutors investigating allegations of illegal activities on Orkut sued Google last month in a Brazil civil court, saying Google hadn't responded to their requests for information.

Google defended itself, saying the prosecutors were requesting the information from Google's Brazil subsidiary, which doesn't operate Orkut. Google runs Orkut from the U.S., so requests have to be sent to its headquarters in Mountain View, California, it said.