Google is obliged to hand over customer data to the FBI on the department's demand and as ordered by the judge. The customer data will help shed light on a national security investigation, the federal judge said. Earlier in the year, the judge called the FBI's request as unconstitutional.

The request will cover "National Security Letters." Thousands of these documents are sent annually by the FBI to telecommunication companies, banks and similar businesses. The letters should be used exclusively without judicial review under the USA Patriot Act. The legislation was signed following the September 11 attacks.

The Act prohibits any recipient, institution or person, from disclosing them.

It was in March when U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston decided that a lawsuit in favor of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The lawsuit which involved an unidentified telecommunications company dealt with free speech violation. According to the case, the letters sent out were a breach of this right.

Judge Illston justified the lawsuit stating the government failed to provide the blanket non-disclosure policy and the letters which calls for national security concerns. Likewise, the gag order comes with an incredible risk restricting freedom of speech unnecessarily.

The ruling is on hold until the government settles the appeal at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Just recently, Ms Illston agreed with the FBI, following Google appeal about the necessity and constitutionality of the letters. The federal judge released her decision following her review of the sworn statements from FBI's two top-ranking officials. According to Ms Illston, the letters were handout properly though she is still requesting for more information on the remaining two letters.

The judge's ruling did not specific the kind of information demanded by the government.