Google has been ordered to pay a former Australian politician, John Barilaro over $700,000.
Google and comedian Jordan Shanks were initially sued in 2000 over a series of YouTube videos that ridiculed former New South Wales (Australia) deputy premier John Barilaro. In the videos, Barilaro was repeatedly referred to as a Wog, slime ball and other epithets referring to his Italian heritage.
The comedian also proclaimed allegations of professional impropriety and personal transgressions such as extramarital affairs—which Barilaro attorneys asserted had no basis in fact. The YouTube videos stated Barilaro was a corrupt conman, who committed perjury nine times, was involved in blackmail and should be imprisoned.
That case was settled in 2001 with Shanks apologizing and promising to edit the offensive videos and cease further posting of defamatory YouTube videos and pay $100,000 in legal costs.
This was not done. Instead, additional videos by the comedian appeared accusing Barilaro of lying to a NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and having sexual relations outside his marriage.
Google refused to delete the offending videos. Federal Court Justice Stephen Rares found Google’s behavior so egregious he fined the Google $715,000 (Australian Dollars). “Google was part and parcel of this disgusting behaviour because it facilitated, published and kept up on YouTube this and similar
videos,” Justice Rares said.
“In my opinion, it is necessary to award a substantial sum in damages to compensate Mr. Barilaro for the harm that Google caused to him and to vindicate his reputation,” Justice Rares ruled.
Both Google and Shanks face additional charges of contempts of court and additional legal fees which
could potentially balloon the fine to over $1,000,000.