Four top Google executives will stand trial in Italy beginning today on charges of defamation and privacy violation. The charges stem from the posting of a video on Google's Italian site, in which four youths tease a boy with Down Syndrome.
Following a complaint from an Italian disability advocacy group, Google quickly removed the objectionable video. Prosecutors will argue that Google should not have posted the video in the first place.
According to the New York Times, the four executives charged were not involved directly in handling
video from Italy. They include David Drummond, Google’s senior vice
president and chief legal officer; George Reyes, its former chief
financial officer; and Peter Fleischer, Google’s global privacy
counsel, according to a Google spokesman. The fourth executive worked
at Google Video in London, the spokesman said, declining to identify
him.
This will be the first time an individual has faced criminal charges for violation of data protection charges by a company for which he or she worked.
In a statement, Google stood behind its employees and criticized the prosecution:
As we have repeatedly made clear, our hearts go out to
the victim and his family. We are pleased that as a result of our
cooperation the bullies in the video have been identified and punished.
We feel that bringing this case to court is totally wrong. It’s akin to
prosecuting mail service employees for hate speech letters sent in the
post. What’s more, seeking to hold neutral platforms liable for content
posted on them is a direct attack on a free, open Internet. We will
continue to vigorously defend our employees in this prosecution.
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(Photo Credit: Nemo's Great Uncle)
Filed under: lawsuit, video, down's syndrome, videos, disability abuse, google, down syndrome, teasing, legal, privacy violation, bullying, defamation, criminal trial, internet, technology
