Google privacy trial opens in Milan

The trial of four Google Inc. executives charged with privacy violations opened in Milan today in a groundbreaking test of European Internet law.

None of the suspects, who each risk a maximum penalty of three years in prison, was present in court, and the hearing lasted only five minutes, according to one of the lawyers present.

The Google executives are accused of defamation and failure to exercise control over personal data following the posting of a cell-phone video showing a teenage boy with Down Syndrome being harassed by four classmates.

Reference: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9127277&intsrc=hm_list