Why Google and Latin America’s largest airline LATAM are fighting a court battle over a YouTube video

Alphabet's Google has reportedly launched a legal battle against Chile-based LATAM Airlines in a U.S. federal court in San Jose, California, seeking to block Brazilian courts from forcing the removal of a YouTube video in the United States. The video, which alleges that a LATAM employee sexually abused a child, has sparked a heated dispute over jurisdictional reach, Reuters reported.Google's lawsuit argues that LATAM is attempting to bypass U.S. constitutional protections for free speech by leveraging Brazilian courts to demand the video’s global removal. "LATAM is trying to sidestep U.S. law," the filing stated, accusing the airline of overreaching its authority.LATAM Airlines did not immediately respond to Reuters’ inquiries regarding Google’s claims. Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesperson, emphasized the company’s stance, stating, "Google has consistently upheld the principle that a country’s courts can govern content within its borders but should not dictate what is accessible in other nations."

What is the Google vs LATAM case about

At the heart of the current dispute is a 2018 YouTube video uploaded by Raymond Moreira, a Florida resident and U.S. citizen. The video features his 6-year-old son describing alleged sexual abuse by a LATAM employee during a trip as an unaccompanied minor. In 2020, Moreira sued LATAM in Florida over the incident, reaching a confidential settlement.LATAM responded by filing a lawsuit in Brazil in 2018, seeking to compel Google, YouTube’s parent company, to remove the video. Brazil’s highest court is set to decide next week whether it can mandate a worldwide takedown. Google’s Thursday filing in California asks the court to affirm that LATAM cannot enforce such a removal in the U.S.

What Google vs LATAM case shows

The case mirrors a February lawsuit in Florida, where Trump Media and Rumble, two right-wing social media platforms, challenged a Brazilian judge’s order to delete U.S.-based accounts linked to a supporter of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. A federal judge in that case ruled that the platforms were not required to comply with the Brazilian directive in the U.S.This case highlights ongoing tensions over global content regulation. In a similar 2018 case, Canada’s Supreme Court ordered Google to remove certain search results worldwide, but a California judge blocked its enforcement in the U.S. in 2017, underscoring the challenges of reconciling national laws with global digital platforms.