Facebook and Its Lawyers Slammed by Judge in Terrorism Suits
A federal judge slammed Facebook Inc., saying the social media giant might not be doing enough to deter terrorists from using its platform, Bloomberg reports. The judge also chewed out the company’s law firm, saying “it is outrageous, irresponsible and insulting” for sending a first-year associate to handle the hearing.
U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in Brooklyn, New York, accused Facebook’s lawyers of not taking seriously lawsuits with implications of international terrorism and the murder of innocent people. He ordered Kirkland & Ellis LLP, the law firm representing Facebook, to send a more senior lawyer to the next hearing on Sept. 28 because he wanted to “talk to someone who talks to senior management at Facebook.”
“Garaufis is overseeing two lawsuits in which more than 20,000 victims of attacks and their families accused Facebook of helping groups in the Middle East such as Hamas,” reports Patricia Hurtado. “The judge noted similar suits haven’t been successful under U.S. law which insulates publishers from liability for the speech of others. But he said that doesn’t mean Facebook shouldn’t take it seriously and try to address the issue.”
