Epstein survivors sue DOJ, Google over personal information release

Jeffrey Epstein survivors filed a class action lawsuit Thursday in federal court in California against the Justice Department and Google, alleging they wrongfully disclosed and republished personal information about the victims in documents from the federal investigation into Epstein's crimes. The suit claims the defendants exposed sensitive details that should have been protected under privacy law, potentially putting survivors at risk and causing additional harm beyond their original victimization. The case underscores ongoing tensions between transparency in high-profile criminal investigations and the privacy rights of victims whose identities and personal data become entangled in government records. Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender who died in federal custody in 2019, abused dozens of women and girls over decades; survivors have pursued multiple legal avenues to hold institutions accountable for their roles in enabling or mishandling his crimes. The lawsuit seeks damages and asks the court to prevent further disclosure of the victims' information.