Thread:Comments:Three Google executives found guilty over Italian video/Why is Google Responsible?

Besides for the impracticalities involved (there are thousands of videos uploaded daily, imagine if each had to be screened by a human), does Google even have such an obligation. I am unfamiliar with law and the details of this case but I would imagine that uploaders to Google Video or any other video site would be required to accept that the company accepts no responsibility and any illegalities would be the responsibility of the uploader. Furthermore Google showed interest in cooperating with the law as they removed the video within two hours after being asked to. Without going into the discussion of whether or not this is an inhibition of Freedom of Speech the question to ask is: Why is Google Responsible?