Attorneys for over a dozen female celebrities who had private photos stolen and leaked online during the nude photo hacking scandal are reportedly threatening legal action against Google for failing to remove the images from Google-based sites.
Hollywood Attorney Martin Singer is accusing the company of “making millions from the victimization of women” in a letter written to Google founders and legal representatives.
The letter, which was obtained by The New York Post, claims Google has failed “to act expeditiously, and responsibly to remove the images, but in knowingly accommodating, facilitating, and perpetuating the unlawful conduct, Google is making millions and profiting from the victimization of women.”
Singer also accuses Google of “blatantly unethical behavior,” comparing their complacency to the NFL’s handling of the Ray Rice affair.
Singer added:
Google knows 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 … Yet Google has taken little or no action to stop these outrageous violations.
The letter, which is four pages in length, goes on to accuse the company of transgressions against the privacy rights:
Rather than be the transgressor, Google should set the example for all other operators and providers. In Google’s own words, “Don’t be evil.”
Singer went on to state that the company faces paying compensatory and punitive damages “that could well exceed ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.”
Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton, Victoria Justice, and Ariana Grande were all among the victims of the scandal, after hackers infiltrated their Apple iCloud accounts.
Their private and sometimes intimate images were then stolen and distributed on multiple websites.
Singer did not disclose his list of clients in the letter, but the full document can be found here.
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