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Google, porn, and the Department of Justice

If we've got this right, the goverment is interested in the public's porn-surfing habits and wants Google (among other search engines) to turn over their search data. According to CBSnews.com:

"The Justice Department wants Google to turn over records of a million random Web searches during a one week period. Google has refused to comply so far and said in a statement that it will fight the government's efforts 'vigorously.'"

However, it appears that the other major search engines have also been contacted by the Department of Justice, but Google is grabbing the headlines because they're the only ones fighting the government subpoena. BoingBoing.net reports:

"... Yahoo, AOL, and MSN were also asked to supply search records information, and all complied. Google did not, and that is why the DoJ asked a federal judge on Wednesday to order the company to do so."

So, what does this mean for webmasters using AdSense to make money on their sites? Well, not much directly. BUT, what this does show is that if Google's fighting the release of data for a million random searches for a single week, they'll be willing to fight even harder for private user data... like anything associated with AdWords or AdSense accounts.