Epstein sexual assault survivors file class action to stop spread of personal information

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — A group of sexual assault survivors of Jeffrey Epstein filed suit Thursday against the United States and Google, claiming the disclosure of their personal information through the Epstein files and subsequent proliferation online continues to cause harm.

The plaintiffs, named Jane Does in the putative class action complaint, claim that in late 2025 and early 2026, the Department of Justice wrongfully disclosed and republished victim-identifying information such as names, phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses and images of around 100 survivors of the convicted sexual predator Epstein, identifying them to the world through online portals.

“Even after the government acknowledged the disclosure violated the rights of the survivors and withdrew the information, online entities like Google continuously republish it, refusing victim’s pleas to take it down,” the plaintiffs said in the complaint. “Survivors now face renewed trauma. Strangers call them, email them, threaten their physical safety, and accuse them of conspiring with Epstein when they are, in reality, Epstein’s victims.”

The class action was filed in the Northern District of California federal court. The plaintiffs bring Privacy Act violation claims against the government and seek compensatory damages.

The plaintiffs also seek to enjoin Google from republishing personal information, as the search engine continues to bring up information in search results and artificial intelligence-generated content.

Additionally, the plaintiffs bring claims of violations of California Civil Code that targets doxxing, violations of California’s unfair competition law, invasion of privacy and negligent infliction of emotional distress claims. They seek compensatory and punitive damages and injunctive relief from Google. For both defendants, the plaintiffs demand a jury trial.

From Dec. 19, 2025, until Jan. 30, 2026, several thousand pages of unredacted investigative files, victim statements, witness interviews, correspondence and other materials were released with identifiable information, all stemming from the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Congress, the DOJ and Freedom of Information Act requests sought a wide swath of records pertaining to Epstein’s criminal conduct, the plaintiffs said.

“These survivors have already endured Epstein’s abuse,” plaintiffs’ attorney Elizabeth Kramer of Erickson Kramer Osborne told Courthouse News in an email. “The government’s disclosures of their identities and personal information — and Google’s refusal to remove that sensitive material despite repeated requests — has subjected them to renewed victimization, harassment, and fear for their safety. Federal and state laws exist to protect crime victims’ privacy, and both defendants have flagrantly violated those protections.”

In allowing the unredacted files with personal information to be disclosed and republished by Google without consent, the plaintiffs claim the government violated a subsection of the Privacy Act. Furthermore, the plaintiffs said the government’s decisions were intentional.

“The United States, acting through the DOJ, made a deliberate policy choice to prioritize rapid, large-volume disclosure over protection of Epstein survivors’ privacy,” the plaintiffs said.

The plaintiffs claim Google can remove their information from its sites and search functions but purposefully chooses not to.

“Google has the technological capability to remove or de-index specific URLs and content from search results and caches. The company maintains policies and procedures for removing content in response to legal demands, court orders, and certain categories of sensitive personal information,” they said in the complaint. “Google’s refusal to use such tools in this case shows its conduct is reckless, in wonton disregard for the well-being of plaintiff and other victims, and willful.”

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.