The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - The state says it will take its time deciding whether to link its databases with an interstate anti-terrorism program that critics say includes too much information about law-abiding citizens.

"This is in the very, very preliminary stages," said Kim Norris, spokeswoman for the attorney general's office. "The state has not transmitted any data. "We do, however, feel that it could provide a very powerful investigative tool."

In March 2002, former Attorney General Betty D. Montgomery entered into an agreement with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to join the federally funded Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange program.

James Canepa, a chief deputy attorney general, said the agreement signed with Florida in no way commits Ohio to participate.

Ohio has until next summer to decide whether to link its databases to the program designed to give local, state and federal law-enforcement officials a one-stop search engine for a variety of public and private records.

Because some of Ohio's records are maintained by departments that answer to Gov. Bob Taft, he also must decide whether to turn them over.

"Gov. Taft supports the pilot project and supports continuing exploring the concept because it may prove to be a powerful investigative tool," Taft spokesman Orest Holubec said.

If the state links its databases, it would get free use of it for two years and 34 secure Matrix computers that would be put in law-enforcement offices.

Privacy rights advocates question the sweeping database, noting that it would contain credit histories, marriages and divorces, fingerprints and Social Security numbers.

As more data are easily obtained through networks, it is becoming possible for the government to compile an "embarrassing catalog of details about our individual lives," said Ray Vasvari, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio.

"You are talking about the government using its resources to spy on innocent people."

On Tuesday, Georgia became the sixth state that was in the program or showed interest in Matrix to have pulled out, citing a mix of privacy, technical and cost concerns.

Other states that have pulled out are Kentucky, Oregon, Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina.

That leaves the project with just seven members - Ohio, Florida, Connecticut, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and Utah.