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Thiel suing Gawker has is absolutely related to his Trump support. Trump is the presidential candidate who wants to "open up those libel laws" to make it easier
by fpgeek 10y ago
Thiel suing Gawker has is absolutely related to his Trump support. Trump is the presidential candidate who wants to "open up those libel laws" to make it easier to sue the press. It is certainly notable that one of Trump's prominent supports has pushed the boundaries of existing laws in the service of similar goals.
In the other direction, Thiel's Trump support suggests that his funding of Gawker lawsuits isn't just about Gawker and his history with them (which is how many people defend Thiel's actions, describing Gawker as an unusually bad actor that is reaping what they sowed). Instead, it suggests that the Gawker lawsuits are indicative of his broader attitudes about how the press should behave and what consequences there should be for press that doesn't.
- parennoob 10y ago> Thiel suing Gawker I think this tends to be papered over too much with "yeah yeah, it's the same thing", but Thiel is not suing Gawker. Thiel is bankrolling a lawsuit against Gawker related to its publishing videos of someone being naked without their consent, an issue that in the case of Erin Andrews led to a $55 million award and widespread public sympathy (http://abcnews.go.com/US/erin-andrews-jury-set-deliberate-75-million-lawsuit/story?id=37460110 http://abcnews.go.com/US/erin-andrews-jury-set-deliberate-75...). Whatever you feel about the Hulk Hogan lawsuit against Gawker is wrong, ask yourself if you would you would feel the same way in the Erin Andrews case.