Epstein Survivors Sue DOJ, Google Over Privacy Breach

0:00It's March 27. Welcome to Vancouver News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story. A group of Jeffrey Epstein survivors has filed a class action lawsuit against the U.S. Justice Department and Google. They claim the government exposed the identities of about 100 victims when it released millions of Epstein-related documents earlier this year. The suit argues this violated privacy protections meant to shield survivors. The files came out after President Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act last November. The Justice Department later admitted the names were included by mistake due to a technical or human error and pulled them down. But victims say Google still spreads the info through search results in AI-generated content ignoring requests to remove it. Survivors report facing harassment, threats, and fresh trauma from strangers contacting them, one campaigner, Jen Elisa Jones, who was recruited into Epstein's network as a teen, says she voted for Trump hoping for real accountability.

1:01Now she feels betrayed, calling the handling of the files a distracting spectacle. The lawsuit demands at least $1,000 per survivor from the Justice Department plus punitive damages from Google. It also wants a court order for Google to permanently delete the personal details. Meanwhile, calls are growing in the U.S. for full transparency and new probes into Epstein's network. U.K. police recently arrested former U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson in connection with the files, and U.S. lawmakers are clashing over redactions. As pressure builds, survivors continue pushing for justice without further harm.