Epstein survivors sue US govt over revealed identities

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WASHINGTON DC: Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have sued the US government and Google after the Justice Department mistakenly ‘outed approximately 100 survivors’ in a January document release. Despite officials acknowledging that the disclosure ‘violated the rights of the survivors,’ the lawsuit alleges that Google continues to display private information and naked photos. The plaintiffs contend that these failures have forced them to face ‘renewed trauma’ and physical threats from the public.

The legal action claims the government violated the Privacy Act of 1974, while Google is accused of ‘negligent infliction of emotional distress’ and invasion of privacy. Although the data was officially withdrawn, the suit argues that it remains accessible through search results and AI-generated content. Survivors report being harassed by strangers who ‘accuse them of conspiring with Epstein’ rather than recognising them as victims.

This case highlights the failure to protect individuals who were, ‘in reality, Epstein’s victims,’ following his 2019 death in a New York jail. By allowing sensitive identities to be published and republished, the survivors argue that the authorities and tech giants have facilitated a secondary wave of victimisation. They now seek accountability for the ‘unlawful business practices’ that continue to jeopardise their safety and privacy.

Photo Credits: AFP