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Google set to pay John Barilaro $715k for publishing ‘racist’ Friendly Jordies videos

John Barilaro, former deputy premier of New South Wales is set to receive $715,000 in defamation damages from Google, as a result of videos posted by comedian Jordan Shanks, aka Friendlyjordies.

Barilaro took the tech company to the Federal Court over two separate videos, published in 2020, citing the fact they had not been removed. He said the videos included “racial slurs”, in reference to his Italian heritage.

The ruling this morning accepted Barilaro’s claim that he had been traumatised by the videos, and with Justice Steven Rares also assessing it as being a part of a “relentless and vicious campaign” against the former deputy premier, with Google failing to take action as the publisher of the content.

Google was contacted regarding the ruling, however, has not yet prepared a statement.

The judge referred to Shanks’ YouTube videos as a “relentless cyber bullying” campaign, according to the Guardian, which caused Barilaro to “leave public office prematurely”.

Barilaro stood down in October 2021.

Prior to the ruling this morning, Google retracted all of its defenses, essentially conceding the case to Barilaro.

Barilaro and Shanks settled a separate Federal Court case in November last year. Shanks apologised to Barilaro and made edits to his YouTube page.

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