Amazon Tribe Files Defamation Suit Against NY Times Over Internet Usage Report

The Marubo tribe seeks $180 million in damages, asserting harmful media portrayal following a New York Times article about their internet access.

An Indigenous Amazon tribe, the Marubo, has initiated legal action against the New York Times (NYT) for publishing an article that the tribe claims led to damaging portrayals of its members as porn addicts. The defamation lawsuit alleges that the NYT’s report misrepresented the community’s struggles with high-speed internet, specifically stating that it suggested they were incapable of handling its effects, thereby sparking a "global media storm" about the tribe.

The article highlighted challenges arising from internet exposure, such as youth engagement with pornography, alongside mentioning the community leader’s concerns over aggressive sexual behavior among young men. The lawsuit also includes TMZ and Yahoo as defendants, claiming those media outlets further exaggerated the NYT's assertions and ridiculed the tribe's youth.

In response to the backlash, the NYT issued a follow-up piece clarifying that it did not claim tribal members were addicted to pornography. However, the Marubo tribe contends that the original article fueled harmful stereotypes and subjected them to public ridicule and safety risks. They are seeking $180 million in damages for suffering humiliation and irreparable harm to their reputations.

Community leader Enoque Marubo and activist Flora Dutra, who helped distribute Starlink antennas to the tribe, argue that the media frenzy negatively impacted their reputations and social standing. The NYT insists its original report reflected the complex realities and potential benefits of technology use among Indigenous groups, pledging to defend against the allegations raised in the lawsuit.