Does Italy’s Google Conviction Portend More Censorship?

[redrumloa]

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/0 ... es+2%29%29

“Today’s stunning verdict sets an extremely dangerous precedent that threatens free expression and chills innovation on the global internet,” Harris said in an e-mail statement. “If the conviction is allowed to stand, it will chill the provision of Web 2.0 services that provide user-generated content platforms in Italy, and Italian internet users will find themselves without a powerful forum for free expression.

“Most troubling, what happened in Italy is unlikely to stay in Italy. The Italian court’s actions today will surely embolden authoritarian regimes and be used to justify their own efforts to suppress internet freedom.”

Chief among the concerns is that nations might turn to using criminal laws or threats of criminal prosecutions to force companies to bend to the their political will.

Attorney Lee Tien of the San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation shares Harris’ concern for online rights.

“The threat to internet free speech from nations around the world that don’t have the same laws and attitudes about free speech is absolutely a constant problem and is getting worse,” Tien said.

We are their cattle, we are being bred for slavery.

 

[Glaucus]

I honestly haven't read much on this, but what I do know about Italian court cases is that you rarely win on the first trial. Sorta like Amanda Knox who was convicted of murder despite the complete lack of evidence. She'll eventually get off but will first have to waste an enormous amount of time and money on pointless legal proceedings. I imagine it'll be the same for the Google Execs. It will probably drag on for many years and there's a good chance it will just vanish into thin air once the statute of limitations kicks in.

In other words, Italy is a joke. I don't expect this to have a major impact anywhere else. But if it does, then I'll agree with you, it would be a very bad thing indeed.