Twitter, Facebook targeted by more Pulse shooting victims
Twitter, Facebook targeted by more Pulse shooting victims
Families of three Pulse nightclub victims are suing
Facebook, Twitter, and Google, alleging that the companies did not do enough to
stop the so-called Islamic State to post propaganda and push its agenda.
By Paul Brinkman April 4, 2017
Ten new plaintiffs have joined a federal lawsuit that
targets Twitter, Google, and Facebook with allegations that ISIS used social
media to radicalize the Pulse nightclub gunman.
The lawsuit is the second in recent weeks where more than
a dozen Pulse victims or their families are now suing over the tragedy. The
other big lawsuit is directed at the G4S security firm, where the shooter
worked as a security guard, and his wife.
One of the new plaintiffs in the social media case is
Christine Leinonen, mother of deceased victim Christopher “Drew” Leinonen. She
has been one of the most visible activists among the Pulse victims’ families,
appearing at the Democratic National Convention during the presidential
campaign to speak about curbing gun violence.
“I think this is one lawsuit that may actually work, so
that we could prevent some future tragedies. It’s not going to eliminate them
altogether because the [expletive] that want to distribute this kind of carnage
can still meet in a coffeehouse or a cave or wherever,” Leinonen said. “They
are taking men who might be slightly angry because they’re not getting along
with their boss or their wife, and they’re making monsters out of them.”
Money from the lawsuit would be put into her son’s
foundation, called The Dru Project, to help start up and support gay-straight
alliances in schools.
She said the lawsuit is not about money.
“Even if the damages are minimal, that’s irrelevant. I
have the opportunity to eradicate future evil. That would promote my son’s
honor, his name, his legacy,” Leinonen said.
The lawsuit seeks a judge’s order declaring the social
media companies to have violated the Anti-Terrorism Act by allowing ISIS
sympathizers to use their services. The act defines terrorism as acts dangerous
to human life, which appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian
population, among other things, and provides for penalties against anyone
aiding terrorists.
Twitter, Google and Facebook have fought back in court,
filing a motion to dismiss the case already.
The social media lawsuit was first filed in December by
family members controlling estates of three deceased victims, by the
Michigan-based firm 1-800-Law-Firm. Ten more joined the suit last week,
according to a new amended complaint.
The social media suit alleges that the shooter, Omar
Mateen, was radicalized by ISIS’s use of social media websites to conduct
terrorist operations. However, the companies have argued that the suit alleges
no facts indicating that the Orlando attack “was in any way impacted, helped
by, or the result of ISIS’s presence on the social networks.”
Mateen opened fire at Pulse, a gay nightclub south of
downtown Orlando, about 2 a.m. on June 12, killing 49 people and injuring at
least 68 others.
Besides Leinonen, the new plaintiffs are family or estate
representatives of deceased victims including: Lydia Perez and family members
of the late Jean Carlos Mendez Perez; Carlos Sanfeliz and Maria
Sanfeliz-Mendoza, family of the late Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz; Jose Luis
Vielma, family of the late Luis Sergio Vielma; Jackson J. Josaphat, family of
the late Jason B. Josaphat; Stanley Almodovar, family of the late Stanley
Almodovar III.
Four of the new plaintiffs are Pulse victims who
recovered: Chris Littlestar, Nicholaz Perez, Asael Abad and Jillian Amador.
The lawsuit cites numerous media accounts of
investigations into the shooting by the FBI and by a Congressional committee.
Although the suit says the FBI believes Mateen was
radicalized by viewing online material, including videos, the suit doesn’t have
any specific examples of Mateen viewing ISIS material. The only direct
reference in the lawsuit to Mateen using social media is about him going on
Facebook during the shooting itself to find reaction.
Another lawsuit filed by victims’ families, filed targets
the G4S security firm, where the shooter worked as a security guard, and his
wife.
Copyright © 2017, Orlando Sentinel
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