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Four Google employees have been slapped with criminal charges of defamation and privacy violation in Italy. Their legal woes began when an Italian organization complained against a video on Google Video – uploaded a couple of years ago – that shows four imbeciles tormenting a disabled person.
Although Google removed the video as soon as the complaint was made, Italian prosecutors decided to persist with personal criminal charges – an unprecedented move - against the four Google executives. Their trial will begin on Tuesday in Milan, Italy. These Google execs may even be consigned to an Italian prison for up to three years, if the charges against them are upheld.
It has vowed to “vigorously defend” its employees. "Seeking to hold neutral platforms liable for content posted on them is a direct attack on a free, open Internet" a spokeswoman for Google argued.
Image Credit: Gamespot
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[1] http://www.maximumpc.com/user/opulent_rigs_0
[2] http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/02/google-executives-face-jail-time-for-italian-video/
[3] http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/020309-google-privacy-exec-faces-criminal.html
[4] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/steve_ballmer_will_testify_%E2%80%9Cvista_capable%E2%80%9D_lawsuit
[5] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/california_looks_at_cyber_bully_law_will_it_help
[6] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/vicarious_liability_french_court_slaps_63_million_fine_against_ebay_users_sins
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