Lawyer to Use Google Search Stats to Defend Obscenity Case
A lawyer for a pornographic website operator plans to use statistics from Google to establish community standards in Florida.
Lawyer Lawrence Walters plans to introduce evidence that Pensacola residents are more likely to search Google for terms like “orgy” than for “apple pie” or “watermelon,” the New York Times reports.
Walters is citing evidence publicly available through Google Trends on the relative popularity of search terms. He has also subpoenaed Google for more specific data on the number of searches for certain sexual topics.
Walters represents website operator Clinton Raymond McCowen, who is scheduled to be tried beginning July 1.
In a trial of a different obscenity case last month, Walters’ Internet search evidence failed to sway jurors, who convicted his client. Walters conducted Internet searches in the courtroom and showed jurors there were millions of sites discussing sexually explicit material, but far fewer discussing topics such as University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
