Media reports Amazon tribe takes legal action against NYT over ‘porn addicts’ allegation

(MENAFN) The Marubo, an indigenous tribe from Brazil’s remote Javari Valley, have filed a defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, TMZ, and Yahoo News over reports suggesting the tribe became addicted to pornography after gaining internet access, according to Courthouse News Service (CNS).

With a population of around 2,000 spread across remote villages, the Marubo received 20 Starlink satellite antennas in 2022, which enabled better communication and internet access. In 2024, a New York Times reporter and photographer visited the community and published an article claiming local teenagers were "glued to their phones" and allegedly watching pornography. The story was picked up and amplified by TMZ and Yahoo, which republished or paraphrased the claims.

On Tuesday, tribal leader Enoque Marubo and Brazilian tech activist Flora Dutra—who helped bring internet access to the tribe—filed suit in Los Angeles, accusing the media outlets of defamation and reputational harm. The lawsuit argues that the publications painted the Marubo as morally weak and socially deteriorated, unable to cope with internet exposure.

The plaintiffs also criticized the brief duration of the New York Times visit, saying the journalists stayed less than two days—insufficient to accurately portray or understand the community. Dutra, who appeared in a TMZ video delivering Starlink devices, claims the media coverage led to death threats and the downfall of her startup, NAVI Global, once valued at $3 million.

Although the New York Times later published a follow-up story denying it claimed the tribe was addicted to porn, the original article has remained controversial. The Marubo and Dutra are seeking $180 million in damages, including $100 million in punitive compensation.

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