Google execs are going out of their way to avoid stepping foot in Italy these days. Why do you ask? Well, back in February 2009 news broke about a trial in Italy that, if the prosecution is successful, the Google privacy counsel could face jail time.
Oddly, this story did not receive much attention at the time.
Now, the trial is set to proceed this week.
From Media Post:
Google’s global privacy counsel, Peter Fleischer, says he doesn’t plan to attend his criminal trial in Milan for allegedly violating the country’s data protection laws.
“I’m under clear instructions from my outside counsel not to set foot in Italy, at all,” Fleischer wrote on his blog, revived this week after a seven-month hiatus. “That’s a tragedy, since I love Italy.”
He also expects that his three co-defendants from Google likewise will remain out of the country, where they face up to three years’ imprisonment if convicted.
So, Google executives could potentially be fugitives from Italian justice? A potential interesting twist to this story. So, if found guilty, will they face justice?
This is a kangaroo court, and really highlights for the world just how corrupt the Italian court system is. There is no justice to be had here, short of dismissal and indictment of the prosecuting attorney (and judge?) for wanton and malicious actions. It’s bizarre to hold individuals criminally liable for the actions of others (for anyone not familiar with the case, 4 kids in Turin uploaded a video to Google Video, which Google took down when requested by LE, and yet the Milan prosecutor wants to somehow hold Google employees personally responsible for providing the platform, completely out of line with European and common law – see http://peterfleischer.blogspot.com/2009/11/today-in-milan.html for more details).
Frankly, given the hostility shown toward Americans lately by the Italian courts, I’m surprised that the US State Dept. hasn’t issued a travel advisory for the country. You may not be at risk of death, but there certainly seems to be a significantly higher likelihood of being detained on trumped-up grounds.
Well, add Italy to the list of countries I won’t be visiting.
I realize our American dollar isn’t worth much these days but a little gratitude for all the support we’ve shown the Europeans over the decades would be nice, no?
Hell, the French “dislike” Americans as a whole yet they would all be speaking German if it wasn’t for those damn Yankees … and while corruption is one thing that seeps and oozes from every pore of every government on Earth at least make a minimal effort to hide it from going international.
… f ’em.
@Rafal
Only Americans eh? Grab a history book mate.