Google Sues LATAM Airlines to Block Brazil-Ordered YouTube Takedown in U.S.

Google has filed a lawsuit against Chile-based LATAM Airlines (NYSE:LTM) in U.S. federal court, seeking to prevent Brazilian courts from ordering the takedown of a YouTube video in the United States. The video, posted by U.S. citizen Raymond Moreira in 2018, accuses a LATAM employee of sexually abusing his 6-year-old son during a flight as an unaccompanied minor.

In the lawsuit filed in San Jose, California, Google, owned by Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL), argues that LATAM’s legal actions in Brazil undermine U.S. free speech protections by attempting to enforce global censorship through foreign courts. LATAM sued Google in Brazil in 2018, requesting global removal of the video. Brazil's Supreme Court is expected to rule next week on whether it can compel global content takedowns.

Google emphasized its long-standing position that courts have authority only over content within their own jurisdictions. “LATAM has not received any official communication about the court case,” the airline told Reuters.

This legal clash follows a similar case earlier this year when Trump Media and Rumble sued a Brazilian judge in Florida over an order to take down U.S.-based social media accounts supporting former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. A U.S. federal judge ruled that the companies were not obligated to comply.

Moreira had previously reached a confidential settlement with LATAM in a 2020 Florida lawsuit regarding the alleged abuse. Now, Google seeks a U.S. court declaration affirming that foreign courts cannot force removal of U.S.-hosted content, citing constitutional free speech rights.

This case could set a precedent for international digital jurisdiction, echoing a 2017 decision where a California judge blocked Canada’s global takedown order on Google search results.