Epstein survivors sue US govt, Google over identity leak
Washington: Survivors linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have filed a lawsuit against the United States government and Google, alleging that their identities were mistakenly disclosed in a large batch of documents made public earlier this year.
What led to the lawsuit?
The legal action follows the release of more than three million files by the US Department of Justice in January. The documents were connected to the investigation into Epstein and included details about his associations with prominent figures.
However, controversy erupted when names of victims, which were meant to remain anonymous, appeared in the records without proper redaction. Authorities later acknowledged the error and moved to remove the information.
What are the allegations by survivors?
According to the plaintiffs, the Department of Justice effectively exposed around 100 survivors by publishing sensitive personal details that identified them publicly.
The lawsuit claims that even after the government admitted the mistake and withdrew the material, digital platforms continued to circulate the information. The survivors allege that entities such as Google have persisted in displaying this data despite repeated requests to remove it.
The case further states that search results and AI-generated summaries on Google still contain personal details related to the victims.
Journalists from The New York Times reported that the documents also included dozens of explicit images in which individuals’ faces were visible, adding to concerns about privacy and handling of sensitive material.
Background on Jeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting sex from underage girls, some reportedly as young as 14. He died in a New York jail in 2019 before facing trial on separate charges related to sex trafficking.
The lawsuit highlights the emotional and physical toll on survivors following the disclosure. According to the filing, many have experienced renewed trauma, receiving unwanted calls and emails, as well as threats to their safety.
It also states that some individuals have been wrongly accused of being complicit with Epstein, despite being victims.
What legal violations are being claimed?
The plaintiffs argue that the government breached the Privacy Act of 1974 by disclosing protected personal information.
In addition, the case accuses Google of violating California laws, including those related to invasion of privacy, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and unlawful business practices.
AFP inputs