UPDATE 4:35 PM EST:
Google has since responded to the $100 million lawsuit, saying that stealing private photos is not what the internet is for. The company’s statement reads:
“We’ve removed tens of thousands of pictures, within hours of the requests being made, and we have closed hundreds of accounts,” said a spokesperson for the tech giant in a statement today. “The Internet is used for many good things. Stealing people’s private photos is not one of them.”
Deadline continues:
“Google adds that like other online companies they also rely on being notifying of such content either directly or by the filing of “valid” DMCA requests.”
We will keep you updated on this matter.
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So, about these celebrity nudes being leaked all over the internet.
It might not be a big deal to us because our privacy hasn’t been compromised, but could you imagine your butt-naked ass being readily available at any time of the day with just the simple click of a button? And really, you didn’t do anything wrong; you thought your sexy nudes were safe up there in the Cloud. But not so much.
Welp, along with Apple, Google may take a million dollar blow since the company never removed the naked pics from its search engine. According to the latest reports, Hollywood attorney Marty Singer is representing more than a dozen stars who are suing the company for $100 million. The stars’ gripes include the fact that their photos are still accessible via Google, and they also claim the company has been profiting off the raunchy pics.
In a legal letter obtained by Gossip Cop, Singer fires off at the multibillion dollar company:
“Google is making millions and profiting from the victimization of women,” says Singer, who on behalf of his clients, feels the company’s “blatantly unethical behavior” could result in damages in excess of $100 million.
Singer writes, “Google knows that the Images are hacked stolen property, private and confidential photos and videos unlawfully obtained and posted by pervert predators who are violating the victims’ privacy rights and basic human decency by stealing and displaying confidential private photos and videos (most of which depict the women in private settings, while nude or semi-nude, engaging in private intimate conduct) without the permission of the owners of the Images. Yet Google has taken little or no action to stop these outrageous violations, or to limit the Images from appearing in Google search results.”
He adds, “It is shocking that Google is facilitating the dissemination of the images,” and has decided instead to “protect its revenue stream partners in order to earn multi millions of dollars on a weekly basis over the rights and protection of individuals.”
Singer states, “If your wives, daughters or relatives were the victims of such blatant violations of basic human rights, surely you would take appropriate action. But because the victims are celebrities with valuable publicity rights, you do nothing – nothing but collect millions of dollars in advertising revenue from your co-conspirator advertising partners as you seek to capitalize on the scandal rather than quash it.”
Singer concludes that “Google’s ‘Don’t be evil’ motto is a sham.”
Stars like Meagan Good, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lawrence, Rihanna, Kate Upton, Gabrielle Union, and more have all been victims of this unfortunate scandal.
We’re just wondering: when are they going to identify the actual person/people who’s leaking the pics? Any day now…
SOURCE: Gossip Cop | PHOTO CREDIT: Wenn
