Google exec released in Brazil
The head of Google's operations in Brazil is released after agreeing to appear in court over local political videos that appeared on YouTube.
A Google executive who was arrested in Brazil over YouTube videos critical of a local politician has been released, the Associated Press reported today.
Fabio Jose Silva Coelho, head of Google's Brazil operations, was released after agreeing to appear in court at an undetermined date. He was detained after the company declined to remove two videos that a judge said violated laws that limit public criticism of political candidates.
A search on YouTube shows several videos of Alcides Bernal, who is running for mayor of Campo Grande, including one about documents he's allegedly hiding and another accusing him of money laundering.
Jose Zagallo, head of the Brazilian bar association's commission focusing on information technology law, told the AP that Brazil's laws unfairly hold services like Google liable for content they cannot control.
Representatives from Google did not respond to a request for comment. We'll update this post when they do.
Meanwhile, another Brazilian court is asking Google to remove the controversial "Innocence of Muslims" trailer that has sparked demonstrations across the Middle East. In that case, Google has 10 days to remove the video or face a fine of $5,000 per day.
Google has blocked the poorly made anti-Islam video in Egypt, Libya, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and India. Pakistan's government has banned YouTube altogether because of its refusal to block the clip.