ZDNet.com reported in 2010 [1] (and others [2]), that when Google was hacked via suspected chinese hackers, that their "internal spy system was the target".

...they [hackers] apparently were able to access a system used to help Google comply with search warrants by providing data on Google users, said a source familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with the press. "Right before Christmas, it was, 'Holy s!@#, this malware is accessing the internal intercept [systems],'" he said.

I guess this could be the system that google uses to compile the data before transmission, or something else, but none the less, it does raise questions.

[1] http://www.zdnet.com/blog/foremski/googles-internal-spy-syst...

[2] http://www.informationweek.com/security/attacks/google-auror...