LOS ANGELES — Lawyers will present opening oral arguments Friday, Oct. 25, in Prager University v. Google LLC before the Superior Court of the State of California in Santa Clara. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. PDT.
Similar to PragerU’s federal case currently awaiting decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the California state lawsuit asserts that Google continues to “unlawfully restrict and restrain speech and expression.” YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, has restricted over 200 PragerU videos, more than 10% of PragerU’s video library, labeling them as “dangerous” or “derogatory.”
Many of PragerU’s videos remain restricted from the very audience it hopes to reach, namely young people, who account for more than 60 percent of PragerU’s more than 2.4 billion online views. The lawsuit maintains that PragerU’s videos have been restricted, not because they are explicit, vulgar or obscene in nature, or inappropriate for children in any way, but because they promote conservative ideas.
“Google claims to be a public forum and a neutral platform open to all,” said Craig Strazzeri, CMO of PragerU, “But they continue to target conservative ideas and restrict access to more and more PragerU videos. They’ve now restricted over 200 of our videos, including several on the 10 Commandments, which is why we are suing them. We will never stop fighting for free speech online.”
Big Tech giants like Google/YouTube, Facebook and Twitter have endured closer scrutiny recently amid allegations they have wielded their near-monopoly status with respect to the publication and dissemination of information online to silence conservative viewpoints. Against this backdrop, PragerU’s lawsuit sits at the center of the national debate about free speech on the internet and has potentially profound implications for the future of the First Amendment.
A press conference will be held outside the courthouse following the hearing. Lead PragerU Attorney Peter Obstler and PragerU CMO Craig Strazzeri will deliver prepared statements and take questions from media.
MEDIA NOTE: Please email Press@theKcompany.co or call 202.810.5530 to schedule an interview with PragerU CMO Craig Strazzeri or CEO Marissa Streit.
###
PragerU, founded by Dennis Prager in 2011, is a not-for-profit organization that helps millions understand the values that shaped America and provides millions of Americans and people around the world with the intellectual ammunition they need to advocate for limited government, individual responsibility and economic freedom. Since its founding, PragerU videos have received over 2 billion lifetime views. PragerU is a resource for all who value liberty. It is a threat to all those who do not.
Website | www.PragerU.com Twitter | @PragerU
