Amazon Tribe Sues New York Times Over Pornography Claims

An Amazonian tribe, the Marubo, is suing the New York Times for defamation, claiming a report about their access to high-speed internet falsely portrayed them as porn addicts.

The lawsuit, seeking at least $180 million, argues that the article depicted the tribe as unable to handle the internet and highlighted unverified claims that their youth were consumed by pornography, according to the BBC.

TMZ and Yahoo are also named in the suit for allegedly sensationalising the story and mocking the tribe’s youth. The NYT denies saying anyone was addicted to porn, and later published a follow-up article titled, “No, A Remote Amazon Tribe Did Not Get Addicted to Porn.”

Marubo leader Enoque Marubo and Brazilian activist Flora Dutra, who helped bring internet to the community, said the coverage caused global humiliation and put their reputations and safety at risk.