Thomas Daniels
Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Micheál Martin, has taken legal action against Google to compel them to reveal the individuals responsible for deceptive cryptocurrency advertisements. Martin, who leads the Fianna Fáil party, claimed that these ads, which appeared on reputable websites, falsely associated him with a cryptocurrency scam through fabricated news articles. Legal proceedings were initiated against Google Ireland Ltd and its parent company, Google LLC, as Martin sought to uncover the creators of these misleading ads.
Martin’s legal team informed the High Court of a resolution, leading Google to agree, without objection, to several court orders in favor of Martin. These orders require Google to furnish Martin with detailed information concerning the disputed advertisements. This information includes the names, email addresses, phone numbers, financial account details linked to the ads, and any IP addresses used to access the accounts for their publication. Google is required to provide this information within a 21-day timeframe.
Furthermore, Google may notify the account owners responsible for the ads about their intention to disclose this information to Martin, aligning with Google’s customary practices in similar situations.
In his affidavit, Martin explained that these ads appeared on well-known Irish websites like the Irish Times, Irish Independent, and Done Deal last July. The ads were associated with extensive, fake news-like articles, with one ad featuring Martin alongside luxury items and provocative text, while another depicted him in a public setting with misleading statements suggesting he wanted to share a ‘possibility’ with the people of Ireland.
