US Judge Rejects $180 Million Lawsuit By Amazon's Marubo Tribe Against The New York Times
A California judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by an Indigenous tribe in Amazon against The New York Times and TMZ that claimed newspaper's reporting on tribe's first exposure to internet led to its members being portrayed as technology-addled
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California Judge Dismisses Marubo Tribe's Legal Challenge Against Major Media Outlets
On Tuesday, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Tiana J. Murillo rejected a lawsuit brought by an Indigenous Brazilian Amazon community against The New York Times and TMZ, ruling in favor of the media organizations.
The Marubo Tribe of the Javari Valley, a sovereign community of approximately 2,000 individuals residing in the Amazon rainforest, had initiated legal proceedings in May, claiming defamation in media coverage about their first encounters with internet technology.
Judge Murillo determined that the Times' reporting was protected under free speech principles. During Monday's hearing, the newspaper's legal team argued their 2023 coverage was fair and accurate. Similarly, TMZ successfully contended that their subsequent reporting addressed matters of legitimate public interest and ongoing societal debates.
The lawsuit had alleged that TMZ and Yahoo (which was dismissed as a defendant earlier this month) had exaggerated the Times' original reporting in a manner that damaged the tribe's reputation, particularly regarding claims about pornography consumption.
In her ruling, Judge Murillo acknowledged that some might "reasonably perceive" the reporting as "insensitive, disparaging or reflecting a lack of respect," but stated the court was not required to determine "which of these characterizations is most apt." She further noted that "regardless of tone, TMZ's segment contributed to existing debate over the effects of internet connectivity on remote Indigenous communities."
Danielle Rhoades Ha, spokesperson for the Times, expressed satisfaction with the outcome in a Wednesday statement to The Associated Press: "We are pleased by the comprehensive and careful analysis undertaken by the court in dismissing this frivolous lawsuit. Our reporter traveled to the Amazon and provided a nuanced account of tension that arose when modern technology came to an isolated community."
TMZ representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The plaintiffs included not only the tribe but also community leader Enoque Marubo and Brazilian journalist and sociologist Flora Dutra, both featured in the June 2024 article. These individuals had been instrumental in facilitating internet access for the tribe, which they maintained had produced numerous positive outcomes, including improved emergency medical care and educational opportunities for children.
N. Micheli Quadros, the attorney representing the tribe and individual plaintiffs, criticized the ruling in a statement to the AP, claiming it "highlights the imbalance of our legal system," which "often shields powerful institutions while leaving vulnerable individuals, such as Indigenous communities without meaningful recourse." The plaintiffs' legal team indicated they would evaluate further options in the coming days, potentially pursuing the matter through California courts or international human rights bodies.
"This case is bigger than one courtroom or one ruling," Quadros wrote. "It is about accountability, fairness, and the urgent need to protect communities that have historically been silenced or marginalized."
The dismissed lawsuit had sought damages of at least $180 million, including both compensatory and punitive amounts, from each defendant.
The tribe had argued that Times reporter Jack Nicas's article about their adaptation to Starlink satellite internet service (operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX) "portrayed the Marubo people as a community unable to handle basic exposure to the internet, highlighting allegations that their youth had become consumed by pornography."
However, the court disagreed with this characterization, noting that the Times article merely mentioned unidentified young men accessing pornographic content rather than claiming widespread addiction throughout the community.
Nicas's reporting described how the tribe was experiencing challenges similar to those faced globally with internet adoption, including "teenagers glued to phones; group chats full of gossip; addictive social networks; online strangers; violent video games; scams; misinformation; and minors watching pornography." He also reported that a tribal leader had mentioned young men sharing explicit videos in group chats.
While the original Times piece made limited references to pornography, other media outlets amplified this aspect considerably. TMZ published content with the headline, "Elon Musk's Starlink Hookup Leaves A Remote Tribe Addicted To Porn."
In response to mischaracterizations by other outlets, the Times published a follow-up piece in which Nicas clarified: "The Marubo people are not addicted to pornography. There was no hint of this in the forest, and there was no suggestion of it in The New York Times's article."
The lawsuit had claimed that although Nicas had been invited to spend a week with the tribe, he remained in the village for less than 48 hours, "barely enough time to observe, understand, or respectfully engage with the community."