Case Study - Google

Google has shown repeatedly and consistently to put consumers privacy at risk. This study examines the background and ongoing issues Google faces.

Google has shown repeatedly and consistently to put consumers privacy at risk. This study examines the background and ongoing issues Google faces.

A Decision that Rocked the World

One of the most interesting cases in recent memory globally was the conviction of three Google executives in Italy for privacy violations of a young man who was shown getting beaten in a video posted online via Google’s videos site. The issue at hand was whether or not Google acted as a content provider versus simply being a conduit of information. A comparison would be for example a newspaper receiving a user submitted article and publishing it rather than a user publishing the article in his own medium. The Italian Justice System took the view that Google was acting as a publisher and should be held to the same regulatory standards as the print, television or radio mediums would be. Google’s position was that in essence the Italian Government was regulating a medium that is essentially different as it is primarily user controlled and meant to be as free and democratic as possible.

One of the mitigating factors in this case and one that weighed heavily when a verdict was reached was the fact that Google features advertising on the site where the video was posted. This made them a de facto content provider since they were profiting from views of the content of the video. It took them a formal request from the Italian police to remove the video even though the family and a Down’s syndrome advocacy group had requested the video be removed personally before the police were involved. It was in this light that ultimately led the Italian Courts to view that Google’s intents and actions were against the protection of privacy of the individual in the video.

One of the most interesting aspects of this case isn’t just that Google the corporate...