N.Y. Lawmaker Drops Google Child Porn Lawsuit

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. — The Long Island politician who filed a federal lawsuit against search engine giant Google alleging that the company was profiting from of child pornography, has dropped his suit.

In his complaint, filed in May, Jeffrey Toback, D-Oceanside, alleged that Google profits handsomely off the dissemination of child porn and that it is an “integral part” of its business structure.

The complaint fingered Google as "the largest and most efficient facilitator and distributor of child pornography in the world.”

While Toback remains concerned about child pornography online, he elected to drop the suit in favor of cooperation.

“Google has offered to sit down and discuss the issues,” Toback said. “They didn't want to do that while litigation was pending, so we're taking them up on their offer.”

Google has denied any allegations of profiting from online child pornography and insisted that it takes numerous steps to block access to illegal material, including removing it from its search engine, reporting it to law enforcement and cooperating with authorities to investigate offenders.

Google spokesman Steve Langdon called the allegations contained in the suit “some of the most far-fetched accusations we’ve ever heard.”

"[We’re] pleased that the suit has been dismissed and believe it was completely without merit," Langdon said. “If Mr. Toback would like to talk with us about something, he should consider approaching it with a phone call, letter or other common form of communication, not an irresponsible lawsuit.”

The suit was originally filed in state Supreme Court in Mineola, N.Y., but was later moved to a U.S. District Court in White Plains, N.Y.

Toback said he initially filed the suit because oversight of Google was beyond the reach of county legislators.

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