Google Could Be Sued Over Nude Celebrity Photo Leaks

Search provider Google could be facing a lawsuit from the female celebrities, whose private images were hacked, for allegedly failing to remove the images and "profiting from the victimization of women".

Lawyers for the affected celebrities including Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton, Amber Heard, Rihanna, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez and Cara Delevingne, are threatening to sue the technology giant for $100m (£62m, €79m), Page Six reported.

Hollywood lawyer Marty Singer, who represents more than a dozen of the affected celebrities, wrote a letter to Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, as well as Eric Schmidt and Google lawyers, accusing the company of "blatantly unethical behaviour".

Google has failed, "to act expeditiously, and responsibly to remove the images, but in knowingly accommodating, facilitating, and perpetuating the unlawful conduct. Google is making millions and profiting from the victimization of women," the letter seen by Page Six says.

Singer noted that many of the stolen images are still on Google sites, despite his firm's notice to have them removed four weeks ago.

"Google knows the images are hacked stolen property, private and confidential photos and videos unlawfully obtained and posted by pervert predators who are violating the victims' privacy rights ... Yet Google has taken little or no action to stop these outrageous violations," he added.

"Because the victims are celebrities with valuable publicity rights you do nothing — nothing but collect millions of dollars in advertising revenue... as you seek to capitalize on this scandal rather than quash it. Like the NFL, which turned a blind eye while its players assaulted and victimized women and children, Google has turned a blind eye while its sites repeatedly exploit and victimize these women."

The celebrities' iCloud accounts were hacked and their private photos shared online in what is said to be the biggest celebrity hacking scandal in history.

There were reports that Apple might face high profile litigation from celebrities over security issues at its iCloud service.