New Delhi [India], September 30 (ANI): Alphabet-owned YouTube has agreed to pay USD 24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former U.S. President Donald Trump concerning the suspension of his account following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, called the settlement a “massive victory” for free speech and a blow to Big Tech censorship. He described it as justice for those who have been shadowbanned or removed from social media or digital platforms.
In his post, Trump stated, “YouTube SURRENDERS! Pays President Trump USD 24.5 MILLION for illegal ban! This MASSIVE Victory proves Big Tech censorship has consequences. Every shadowbanned patriot deserves justice! Trump fought for free speech and Won! Repost if ALL banned conservatives should be paid!”
Trump filed the lawsuit against YouTube in October 2021, alleging that YouTube and other social media companies wrongfully censored him by removing his accounts.
YouTube had suspended Trump’s account on January 12, 2021, six days after the Capitol riots, preventing him from uploading new content. The platform cited potential risks of violence as the reason. The suspension followed Trump’s videos questioning the 2020 election results, which YouTube determined could further inflame tensions.
Alphabet-owned YouTube stated that its policies prohibit content promoting violence. The ban was indefinite but subject to review, and Trump’s account was reinstated in March 2023 after the platform determined the risk of real-world harm had diminished.
The settlement was filed in federal court in Oakland, California, on September 29. YouTube is the last of the major tech platforms to settle such lawsuits with Trump.
Previously, Trump had filed similar lawsuits with other major tech companies following his re-election in November 2024. Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, paid a total of USD 25 million in January 2025, and microblogging platform X settled for USD 10 million in February 2025, primarily over account suspension claims. (ANI)
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