Google Italy executives convicted

An Italian court has set a controversial precedent, that Google says could affect Internet freedom.

A judge convicted three of the search giant's executives, for failing to remove an offensive online video, showing an autistic boy being bullied.

The court handed each of the three Google executives six-month suspended sentences, because they didn't pull the video soon enough.

Prosecutors accused Google of being negligent, saying the video remained online for two months even after web users posted comments asking for it to be taken down.

Bill Echikson, senior manager of communications of Google Inc, speaks to the media after a court convicted three Google executives in Milan February 24, 2010. REUTERS/Paolo Bona