From Pro-Lifer Challenges Google with FL Free Speech Law

by Catherine Salgado

A pro-life activist is taking advantage of an anti-censorship law in Florida to take on one of the biggest and most tyrannical of Big Tech companies.

Represented by the Thomas More Society, Trudy Perez-Poveda is suing Google and challenging the tech giant’s decision to suddenly deplatform and block her access to Gmail and other Google apps. Just prior to the ban, the 76-year-old had used her Google account to share information about a pro-life event. The Thomas More Society noted in a recent release about the suit that Perez-Poveda is able to sue Google thanks to a free speech law in Florida that was recently challenged at the U.S. Supreme Court in Moody v. Net Choice.

The censorship happened shortly after Perez-Poveda had used Gmail for her pro-life work: “An hour after she emailed members of her pro-life group to join her for a Catholic Mass and prayer gathering in front of a Jacksonville abortion clinic,” the Thomas More Society explained. Google then abruptly blocked the pro-life advocate from accessing more than a decade of her personal data, including emails, contacts, photographs and calendars. The Society reported that Google initially gave Perez-Poveda no explanation.

Google’s actions are in violation of Florida law which requires a prompt and complete explanation of censorship against private users, or the users can sue. According to the release, Google gave Perez-Poveda a belated and vague explanation, claiming she had allegedly violated its “Acceptable Use Policies.” However, the tech company did not specify how the pro-life activist had violated the policy, despite her multiple requests for more information. She and the Thomas More Society are insisting Google return her “property.”