In the California Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District, plaintiffs Steve Wozniak and 17 others have filed a lawsuit against YouTube, LLC and Google (Case ID: H050042, Santa Clara County Super. Ct. No. 20CV370338) on April 2, 2024. The case involves a cryptocurrency scam that took place on YouTube, where popular channels were hijacked to display fake videos of tech celebrities hosting live events promising to double any cryptocurrency sent to a specified account.
The plaintiffs include Steve Wozniak—whose name and likeness were used in the fake videos—and 17 individuals who fell victim to the scam by losing varying amounts of cryptocurrency. They allege that YouTube and Google knowingly hosted, promoted, and profited from the scam for years.
Plaintiffs argue their claims are not subject to section 230 immunity because they do not seek to treat defendants as a publisher or speaker of third-party content but instead seek to hold them liable for engaging in actions they knew would further criminal activity.
The plaintiffs are seeking judgment for damages caused by the alleged negligence of YouTube and Google in hosting and promoting the scam. They also claim that their reputations have been damaged due to their names and likenesses being misappropriated in the scam videos.