Google defends Orkut against comments

Internet company Google has defended its website Orkut.com following complaints in the UAE that it contains offensive sexual material.

As reported in Gulf News yesterday, some UAE residents have called for the site to be banned because they say it could corrupt youngsters and be used by those searching for sexual partners.

Orkut allows people to create personal profiles and includes hundreds of entries under the "Dubai Sex" category, some of which contain pornographic material and explicit wording.

Google spokeswoman Rachel Whetstone described Orkut as a "social networking site", adding that the "vast majority" of users logged on for innocent reasons.
"They use it to build friendships with like-minded people.

There is always a tiny minority of people [who post material] that some could find offensive or that could be illegal or could be contrary to the terms and conditions," she said by telephone from the company's London offices.