New publishing precedent

I don’t think it is the end of Youtube, but it is certainly a bit of a scare. An Italian court made the precedent setting decision to hold three Google executives responsible for invasion of privacy because of video hosted on the popular site. Up until now, web hosts have been exempt from privacy and defamation charges but this decision could shake things up. None of the executives had ever seen the video, uploaded it, or knew of its existence until charges were laid, but the court has ruled that they are ultimately responsible.

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Standard practice dictates that web-hosts like Youtube are not ‘publishers’ because they do not edit or vet the content as a standard publisher would. If decisions like this catch-on in other national courts, it could pose a real challenge to the ‘free’ exchange the internet provides. For all of us bloggers and social media users out there, this is another reminder that no one is untouchable when the long arm of privacy, copyright and defamation law reaches. I do not think this decision will catch on, but it has left a lot to ponder. And, in the worst case scenario, if Youtube is classed as a publisher rather than a host, it will mean the death of Youtube, or create an entire new realm of employment as editors for all of us aspiring media folk out there.