Google Executives Go On Trial In Italy

Google Executives Go On Trial In Italy

Google executives are in court today facing charges of defamation and failure to exercise control over personal data, in a case that could have broad implications for privacy standards on the internet.



The four executives standing trial in the Criminal Court of Milan are accused of allowing a clip to be posted on Google Video in Italy showing a boy with Down's Syndrome being badly bullied by four classmates.

Google removed the video within 24 hours of receiving two complaints, but Italian prosecutors have argued that the search company is an internet content provider rather than an ISP, and is therefore in breach of the same Italian law that regulates newspaper and television publishers.