Amazonian tribe sues The New York Times for $180 million

The Marubbo tribe, who live in the deep rainforests of Brazil, has filed a lawsuit in the US court against American media outlets The New York Times, TMZ and Yahoo. In the case, which is being heard in a Los Angeles court, the tribe claims that unfounded, insulting and defamatory information about their way of life has been disseminated.

What is behind the lawsuit?

The central figure is The New York Times journalist Jack Nikas, who in an article published in 2024 described how the life of the tribe has changed after the introduction of the Internet. According to his article, after connecting to the Starlink Internet via satellite, the youth of the tribe became addicted to social networks, gossiping in group chats, violent games and even an interest in pornography.

Following the article, public portals such as TMZ and Yahoo republished the news and caused a wide discussion on the global network. This has been sharply criticized by the Maruba tribe and human rights activists.

What are the plaintiffs demanding?

The tribe is seeking $180 million in damages from The New York Times and its partners, TMZ and Yahoo. They argue that the allegations in the article have not only tarnished their reputation, but also damaged the tribe's cultural reputation and international image. Therefore, $100 million is intended for moral damages, and the remaining $80 million is intended for punitive and community accountability.

NYT Denies, but Does Not Apologize

After the Maruba tribe's discontent became known, The New York Times published a rebuttal article with the headline "No, Amazonian Tribe Is Not Addicted to Pornography." However, the publication defended the original article, claiming that it did not contain any defamatory or inaccurate information.

The official statement of the publication reads: "We respect the opinion of the tribe, but all the facts presented in this article were collected and analyzed in accordance with journalistic standards. We will remain faithful to our position in court."

Opinions and analysis

Brazilian lawyers and ethnologists assess this lawsuit as a "legal response to moral colonialism." According to them, the spread of stereotypes about small ethnic groups, the violation of their privacy and cultural sovereignty through Internet technologies and global media is becoming a serious problem in the world.

From the editorial staff of Zamin.uz:
This lawsuit filed by the Maruba tribe is not only a fight for the rights of a group of people, but can also be an important test in determining the boundaries of ethical journalism and cultural respect in the global information environment. It is not yet known how the results of the trial will affect relations in the world media sphere, but it will undoubtedly be an important precedent in international journalism.

Photo: The New York Times Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!