Italian judge finds three Google employees guilty for user uploaded bullying video

By on Feb 24, 2010 at 10:01 AM
News February 24, 2010

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This is backwards. In 2006, several students from Turin, Italy filmed themselves bullying a classmate with Down’s Syndrome. The bullying students, clearly impressed with themselves, uploaded the video to Google Video for the world to see. Google explains: “The video was totally reprehensible and we took it down within hours of being notified by the Italian police. We also worked with the local police to help identify the person responsible for uploading it and she was subsequently sentenced to 10 months community service by a court in Turin, as were several other classmates who were also involved.” But, of course, this isn’t where this story ends. “A public prosecutor in Milan decided to indict four Google employees… who left the company in 2008. The charges brought against them were criminal defamation and a failure to comply with the Italian privacy code.” Google goes onto clarify that the employees charged were not responsible for the screening of these movies — no Google employee is responsible for that — and furthermore the employees had no knowledge of this video until after it was removed by Google. “Nevertheless, a judge in Milan today convicted 3 of the 4 defendants…for failure to comply with the Italian privacy code… In essence this ruling means that employees of hosting platforms like Google Video are criminally responsible for content that users upload.” Peter Fleischer, Google’s global privacy counsel, David Drummond, senior vice president of corporate development, and former chief financial officer, George Reyes, were sentenced to six-month terms, which were suspended. Google plans to appeal the judge’s decision.

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  • ryan

    i think it’s clear that Italy is very anti-american they pretty much fabricated a case against that american girl that was involved in the murder of the british student. The italian boyfriend got 5 years and the american girl got 25 years or so in jail. How bias is that?

    I say all american companies should pull out of italy, google, apple, micrsoft, motorola, palm, ford, etc

    shit those sons of bitches dont appreciate us, not to mention that we now have to put up with Jersey Shore being a TV show.

    • yaya

      fuck you italy. you look like a giant whorish boot.

      • rederikus

        From you comments, I now assume that you APPROVE of bullying peopel with Downs’ syndrome.

  • rhona

    Google should not be held responsible for monitoring content but they do have an obligation to do something about it fast if it is pointed out that certain content is inappropriate. If somebody posted some child porn and known to Google, should Google take weeks to take it down or are they obligated to take it down in hours.

    Google is trying to shirk their responsibility by using the old argument that they are not responsible for the content.

  • ButtonBoy

    The Italian court system has gone completely bonkers. First the Amanda Knox trial fiasco, and now this debacle. Democracy has a rather different take in Italy. Sure glad I didn’t get noticed when I was there- my life would be very different now…

    On the other hand, it is very kind-hearted of the Italian government to hire judges with such extreme mental handicaps.

  • MementoMori

    I’m glad someone mentioned the obvious America hate. It runs redder in Italy than the red stripe on their flag.

    There’s definitely a difference between a civil suit and the government prosecutor pressing charges. For that matter, there’s just as big of a difference between holding a corporation criminally liable and holding the individuals liabile.

    It makes you wonder what sparked the whole thing. I read an interesting blog about it here.

  • robnhl

    Not entitled to render an opinion? Are you qualified to render an opinion on his right to render his own opinions? I didn’t realize that opinions required pre-certification.

    You maybe should have said “I will ignore your opinion because I don’t think your qualifications give it merit.”

  • Xavier Thompson

    <>

    Not entitled to render an opinion??? That’s why it is an opinion, everyone has a right to voice their opinion. Apparently you didn’t even realize that you have just stated yours…. LOL What an idiot!

    Laws are to be interpreted last time I checked. And judgements are to be passed by the judge who in this case decided probation for the offenders and jail sentences for the google employees. No one has to be a legal scholar to determine something is wrong with that picture.

  • RE

    Hahaha! Welcome to America where thousands of people make millions of dollars rendering “an opinion on a subject for which [they] are not qualified” Honestly, that is free speech and anyone can render an opinion. What we can do about opinions is what is up to us (which is why I am giving you a negative!). :)

  • xman

    NO! I made you log like a complete idiot on this blog… since you stated your opinion and didn’t realize it, while claiming others shouldnt!! Who is the fucking moron now?? Thanks For Playing yourself!!!! :) GO and GET a real education and learn something about free speech and laws before commenting again.

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