Google execs convicted over bullying video
February 24th, 2010Company sees threat to free speech on the Internet
From Reuters/New York Times, AP/Forbes.com, CNN:
A judge in Milan has found three Google executives guilty of criminal privacy violation charges for allowing a cellphone video of the bullying of an Italian youth to be displayed on a company website in 2006.
Press reports said the video showed the boy, described as having Down syndrome or autism, being taunted by classmates while one of the teens made a mock phone call to a Down syndrome support group.
A Google spokesman said the company would appeal what it called an “astonishing” decision, and said the case posed a threat to freedom of speech on the Internet.
Prosecutors said the case was not about censorship, but about balancing freedom of expression with the rights of an individual. They said the video remained online for months even though some web users had posted comments asking that it be taken down. Google said it removed the video within hours of being notified by police.
The three defendants received six-month suspended sentences for privacy violation. They were acquitted of charges of defamation, as was a fourth executive. All had denied wrongdoing. In an earlier action in juvenile court, the four bullies were sentenced to community service.
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February 25th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Well let’s face the facts here. Google never takes down any offensive videos mocking the disabled unless forced to. What’s the point of their flag button anyway when they refuse to remove any video regardless of its content?
No one is asking them to police their site. Just to take a look at the flagged videos and take the appropriate action. Google brought this on themselves. Go to YouTube and type in the word retard in the search button. Be prepared to be amazed at what they get away with and then you can get really angry at what they allow to happen each and every day.