Indigenous Amazon tribe says New York Times story led to its members being smeared as porn addicts
May 22, 2025
An Indigenous tribe from the Brazilian Amazon has sued the New York Times over the newspaper’s reporting on the community’s introduction to the internet. The Marubo tribe says the June 2024 story led to unfair depictions of its members as pornography addicts. It also says the article was amplified and sensationalized by other outlets showing its members as moral degenerates unable to handle technology. The Times says in response that the story actually shows a sensitive and nuanced exploration of the benefits and complications of new technology. The defamation suit was filed in a Los Angeles court this week. It seeks at least $180 million in damages from each plaintiff.
