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?