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Google's attempt to shut down a probe by Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has been blocked by a US appeals court. Hood, along with other state prosecutors, wanted to investigate whether or not Google was complying with a $500m settlement with the US government. As well as coughing up the chunk of change, the web giant …

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  1. Tom 35

    Mississippi?

    Google could always claim religious freedom.

    1 0 Reply
    1. John Lilburne
      Reply Icon

      Re: Mississippi?

      Or that John Perry Barlow is the mouth of Sauron, and normal laws don't apply to the ring wraiths Erik, Larry, and Serge.

      1 0 Reply
  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    This case is all about Google trying to keep incriminating documents secret

    Back in 2011 they enter a "non prosecution agreement" over prescription drug advertising for $500 million, and half the payout went to Rhode Island because they apparently had some particularly incriminating documents in their possession. About 40 state AGs, lead by Mississippi, don't believe Google is keeping to the terms of their agreement and want to see those documents, but Google and their bought and paid for pawns in Rhode Island have been doing everything they can to keep them secret.

    Apparently Google thinks that by paying off the smallest state with a quarter billion, they can buy protection from the laws of the US.

    1 0 Reply
    1. Daggerchild Silver badge
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      Re: This case is all about Google trying to keep incriminating documents secret

      Yup, it's definitely that simple and nothing to do with all that lovely money they saw that other guy get. Google are always completely evil and the American legal system is never used as an expensive blackmail tool.

      What happens when you show the US ads from Canadian companies for drugs that are legal in Canada?

      0 1 Reply
  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Maybe Google should "strike"

    And have a day without search. Might be interesting.

    Of course the day might want to be the same one as Bing and Yahoo also go on strike.

    Add in a banner indicating the phone number of the AG's office would be icing on the cake.

    Guy Fawkes would be proud.

    0 1 Reply
    1. Dr Stephen Jones
      Reply Icon

      Re: Maybe Google should "strike"

      Interesting advice.

      You want a gigantic corporation to intimidate an elected official. So the gigantic corporation doesn't get investigated.

      Are there more where you come from, AC? How's the Brown Shirt fit?

      1 1 Reply
      1. Daggerchild Silver badge
        Reply Icon

        Re: Maybe Google should "strike"

        Ooh - interesting point. At what point does Google become an 'essential service' and they lose control over when and to whom they must provide it?

        Maybe they can be strapped into the same rack as the Health and the Education system, where you realise you can torture them to your heart's content and all they can do in return is try and endure it. *MWUhahahahaaaaaaaa*

        0 0 Reply

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