Federal judge temporarily blocks Mississippi attorney general's inquiry into Google

The Mississippi attorney general's attempt to investigate Google is on hold for at least four more months.

U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate on Monday granted Google's request for a preliminary injunction.

The order prevents Attorney General Jim Hood from going through with a subpoena meant to examine whether Google is facilitating illegal activities by others on its sites.

The Internet giant, based in Mountain View, California, argued that Hood's investigation is blocked by a 1996 federal law, the Communications Decency Act.

It gives Internet services immunity from lawsuits over what third parties say using the services.

Wingate said that, at this point, Google has the stronger argument. However, Hood says he wants to investigate Google's own conduct.

Wingate set the case for further arguments later this year.