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Google Privacy Counsel Facing Criminal Charges

Posted by kdawson on from the stay-on-the-plane dept.

ProfJonathan writes "According to a story in the IAPP's Privacy Advisor, Google's Paris-based global privacy counsel, Peter Fleischer, is facing criminal charges in Italy for defamation based upon a user's posting of a video to Google Video. Mr. Fleischer was on his way to the University of Milan for a speaking engagement when he was met by Italian law enforcement officials. As with the 1997 case of Compuserve's Felix Somm and the 2006 arrest in Texas of BetOnSportsUK's CEO during a layover on a trip to Costa Rica, this case once again highlights the risks faced by executives and employees of online companies whose activities may be legal and protected in their own countries, but illegal elsewhere in the world. Troubling, and worth watching."

4 of 242 comments (clear)

  1. hmph by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Google has had one of the most successful marketing campaigns I've ever seen in the United States, demonstrated by the fact that their public image is completely dissociated from their actions.

    Kudos to the Italian government for having the courage to try to tackle one of the most corrupt, terrifying organizations I've ever witnessed.

    1. Re:hmph by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      It is interesting how the first comment posted that dares to be critical of google is immediately voted down as a "troll." Has Slashdot come to the point where individuals are no longer capable of expressing their opinions without their comments becoming 'invisible?'

    2. Re:hmph by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      Oh yeah, and the American companies that sold the oil with which Germany bombed London, they were really working in the interest of free commerce. And green energy. And puppies.

      The bottom line is, every inch of trust you give a corporation, they will exploit. As soon as the words "I don't care how you do it, just do it" are uttered, it all goes to shit. Italy's prosecution of Google, regardless of which grounds it's on, sends a clear message, however obfuscated in its medium, that Google is accountable to laws and the intentions behind the laws.

  2. Easy Fix by HaeMaker · · Score: 0, Troll

    Cut Italy off the Internet. Anyone going to miss them? Anyone?