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The country's Federal Police detained the head of Google Inc.'sBrazilian operations after the company failed to act on anelectoral judge's order to remove videos from its YouTube sitecriticizing a candidate in a rural state election.
Separately, a Brazilian judge ordered Google to remove versionsof the 'Innocence of the Muslims' video that has sparked deadly riots across the Middle East fromBrazilian YouTube within 10 days or face fines. The ruling was in response to a suit brought by agroup called the National Union of Islamic Entities, according to court documents.
Google is no stranger to legal challenges to content on its video website. But the twin cases in Brazilmay also shine light on the South American nation's sometimes freewheeling legal system, whichhas garnered more attention as Brazil's role in global business grows.
The head of Chevron Corp.'s Brazil unit was threatened with arrest and his passport confiscatedafter a small leak at a Chevron well this year, for example.
Legal analysts say neither Google nor any Chevron executives are likely to set foot in jail in thecases. Experts say Brazil's appeals process is long and even officials convicted of major white collarcrimes are rarely, if ever, jailed.
But such jail-time threats could eventually damp enthusiasm for Brazil, even as the country seeksto attract the globe's blue chip companies, some analysts said. Google, for example, is buildingoffices in one of Brazil's most expensive buildings in downtown S?o Paulo.
In the electoral case, Police said Google's Fabio Jose Silva Coelho was taken to a station in S?oPaulo, where he gave a deposition and promised to appear at future court dates. They said Mr. Coelho would be released since he wasn't accused of a major crime. The authorities were acting ona warrant issued by an electoral judge Tuesday. The charge carries the possibility of a year in jail.
After the warrant was issued, Google said it planned an appeal on the grounds that it is notresponsible for the content uploaded by users of YouTube. Google didn't immediately commentfurther Wednesday.
In the video case, a separate judge said Google will be fined 10,000 Brazilian reais ($4,926) per dayif it doesn't comply with his order. Still, the judge acknowledged the complexity of policing videoson YouTube.
The case 'creates a clear conflict between freedom of expression and the need to protectindividuals and groups against protests that could induce or incite religious discrimination,' thejudge said in his decision.
'Innocence of the Muslims' is a 14-minute video attacking the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.
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由于谷歌(Goole Inc.)没有按照选举法官要求删除YouTube网站上批评一位候选人的视频，该公司的巴西负责人被联邦警察扣留。候选人参加的是一个农业州的选举。
此外，另一位巴西法官要求谷歌在10天之内从巴西YouTube上删除曾经引发中东致命暴乱、名为《穆斯林的无知》(Innocence of the Muslims)的视频，不然就将面临罚款。法庭文件显示，这一裁决是在“伊斯兰团体全国联盟”(National Union of Islamic Entities)提起诉讼后做出的。
谷歌不是第一次因为YouTube上的内容而遇到法律上的挑战。但两起案件或许也让外界注意到这个南美国家有时比较随意的司法体系。随着巴西在全球商业中发挥的作用越来越大，该国的司法体系也受到了越来越多的关注。
比如，在雪佛龙公司(Chevron Corp.)的一处油井发生小规模漏油事故后，雪佛龙巴西公司的负责人就被逮捕并受到威胁，其护照也被没收。
法律分析人士说，在这些案件里面，不管是谷歌还是雪佛龙的任何一位高管，都不太可能被投入监狱。专家说，巴西的上诉流程漫长，就算是被判犯有重大经济罪的官员，即使有入狱的，也是非常之少。
但一些分析人士说，入狱的威胁最终还是有可能打击外商对巴西的热情，而此时巴西正在努力吸引全球的蓝筹股公司前来投资。比如，谷歌就正在圣保罗修建办公场所，这是巴西最昂贵的建筑之一。
在选举案件中，警方表示谷歌的科埃略(Fabio Jose Silva Coelho)被带往圣保罗的一个警察局做了笔录，他还保证会出席将来的庭审。警方说，科埃略将被释放，因为他被控的罪行并不严重。有关部门是在执行一位选举法官周二发出的一张逮捕令。这项指控意味着科埃略可能面临着一年的刑期。
在逮捕令发出之后，谷歌表示准备上诉，理由是它对YouTube用户上传的内容不负责任。周三，谷歌未发表其他评论。
在视频案中，法官表示谷歌若不服从法庭命令，将每天被处1万巴西雷亚尔（合4,926美元）的罚款。不过，法官也承认谷歌对YouTube视频内容进行核查有其复杂性。
这位法官在判决中说，此案形成了一个明显的冲突，一方面是言论自由，另一方面，也要保护个人和群体免遭可能诱发或煽动宗教歧视的抗议。
《穆斯林的无知》是一段攻击穆斯林先知穆罕默德(Prophet Muhammad)的视频，片长14分钟。 |
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发表于 2016-7-11 09:55:05