[krapp]

Is Google legally liable if it's discovered that they're hosting emails with child porn attached? If so, then does that suggest that Google owns the email hosted on their servers, and has the right to examine them if they want?

[icebraining]

I think Google's only liable if they know about it and didn't report.

According to paragraph (f) of the 18 U.S. Code § 2258A,

Protection of Privacy.— Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an electronic communication service provider or a remote computing service provider to—

(1) monitor any user, subscriber, or customer of that provider;

(2) monitor the content of any communication of any person described in paragraph (1); or

(3) affirmatively seek facts or circumstances described in sections (a) and (b).

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2258A?quicktabs_8=...