Alphabet allegedly to pay $22M to settle Trump’s YouTube lawsuit — unconfirmed

Multiple reports claim Alphabet will pay $22 million to settle a 2021 lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump over YouTube account suspensions after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, with other plaintiffs reportedly splitting an additional $2.5 million. The payment is said to be routed to the Trust for the National Mall and earmarked for a ballroom that President Trump plans at the White House.

Those reports also tie this settlement to prior related payouts: X (formerly Twitter) reportedly settled with Trump for roughly $10 million, and Meta reportedly settled earlier this year for $25 million.

Important: I checked reputable outlets and could not find independent confirmation of the claimed Alphabet settlement. The article citing the settlement (linked below) appears to be unconfirmed by major news organizations at this time. We will update if authoritative sources (Reuters, AP, WSJ, CNBC) confirm.

Source (unconfirmed): Engadget — Alphabet will pay $22M to settle President Trump’s YouTube lawsuit

If you have additional verified sources or official filings, please share them in the comments. What’s your take: should platforms be able to suspend accounts without legal risk, or should they be liable for reinstatement? Share your thoughts below.

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