The court ruled that the executives failed to quickly remove a YouTube video showing a boy suffering from Down's syndrome being bullied in his school.

Although, the executives were acquitted on charges of defamation, they received six-month suspended sentences for privacy violation.

In its blog, Google said it will appeal "this astonishing decision which attacks the very principles of freedom on which the internet is built."

Google called the video in question "reprehensible" and said that it "took it down within hours of being notified by the Italian police."

With the help of the local police, the company identified the uploader who was then sentenced to community service along with other classmates who were involved with the video.