Trump sued over Truth Social's $100,000 early access service
Media groups file a lawsuit in New York court challenging Truth Social's Truth API, arguing it grants paying clients an unfair market advantage.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The Intercept and Freedom of the Press Foundation sued Donald Trump in a New York federal court.
- The Truth API service charges up to $100,000 a month for early access to presidential posts.
- Plaintiffs argue the setup creates an unfair advantage for financial market movements.
- TMTG dismissed the lawsuit, stating the product targets businesses seeking faster data feeds.
Donald Trump is facing a formal lawsuit filed by two US media groups regarding a controversial new service on Truth Social that charges up to $100,000 a month for expedited, early access to his social media posts.
The legal complaint was submitted on Wednesday in a New York federal court by independent news outlet The Intercept alongside the Freedom of the Press Foundation. Meanwhile, the BBC has reached out to the White House for an official statement regarding the litigation.
The paid subscription tier offers clients near-instant delivery of Trump's updates, reaching subscribers mere seconds before they become visible to the general public. Plaintiffs emphasize that these fractions of a second are critical because Trump frequently utilizes the platform to break major news developments, such as updates concerning the Iran war, which possess the capability to directly sway financial markets.
Legal representatives for the plaintiffs argue that this architecture grants an unwarranted advantage to entities with deep financial resources, establishing a tiered system where market-sensitive intelligence reaches paying clients ahead of everyone else. Records indicate that more than ten corporate firms are currently paying up to $100,000 monthly to secure high-speed data feeds of Truth Social posts.
Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company, countered by stating the product is specifically designed for commercial enterprises demanding faster data feeds, while dismissing concerns surrounding information utilization. The company officially launched the product, designated as Truth API, in mid-July, promising the delivery of posts from Trump and other high-profile accounts within milliseconds.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This legal challenge highlights the growing intersection between digital political speech and high-frequency financial markets. As social media morphs into a primary channel for presidential announcements, granting elite financial subscribers a millisecond-level head start raises significant regulatory questions regarding market fairness and informational parity.
Presently, Donald Trump remains the most followed figure on the platform with approximately 13 million followers, comfortably ahead of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who commands roughly 7.5 million followers.
"Now, left-wing activists are trying to wrongfully weaponize the courts to censor him again and harm our shareholders."
TMTG Spokesperson
Addressing the lawsuit head-on, a spokesperson for TMTG defended the platform, pointing out that presidential information is broadly syndicated across countless outlets that operate subscription-based APIs. The representative reiterated that Truth Social was originally founded as an uncancellable haven for free speech following the former president's de-platforming, while further accusing the Freedom of the Press Foundation of breaching the platform's terms of service.
Source: BBC Business
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