Celebs in nude pic hacking scandal threaten to sue Google for US$100m

Oct 02, 2014 08:04 pm

Watch out, Google.

Page Six is reporting that lawyers for the female celebrities affected by the nude picture hacking scandal last month are threatening to sue the tech company for US$100 million (S$127 million) for "allegedly failing to remove the images" and "making millions from the victimisation of women".

Celebrities whose pictures were leaked included Jennifer Lawrence, Rihanna, Amber Heard, Kate Upton and Ariana Grande, though Page Six did not say which celebrities are threatening to sue.

“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."

Marty Singer, top Hollywood lawyer

The suit, if it happens, will likely be spearheaded by top Hollywood layer Marty Singer, who wrote a strongly-worded letter to Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and Google's lawyers.

In it, he accuses the company of collecting "millions of dollars in advertising revenue" because the victims are "celebrities with valuable publicity rights".

Source: Page Six