The Justice Department says it needs to access Google's search records to help stop online pornography but Google says allowing the request would compromise its business policies.
The US Justice Department had asked Google to hand over a week's worth of search records but in court it reduced this to just 50,000 web addresses and approximately 5,000 search terms.
Whilst he could see that the state may have a right to know which websites are indexed by Google, Judge Ware said he was "particularly concerned" over the request for a random sample of search data, however, he said he would grant some of the government's request in a written verdict expected soon.
The judge told the Justice Department it would get at least some of the information they wanted but he wasn't sure about making Google reveal some of its most sensitive data such as the actual requests that users enter into the search engine.
Google and the Justice Department appeared satisfied with the judge's approach to the matter.
