Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Democratic presidential candidate, sues Google for ‘election interference’

Democratic primary candidate for president, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, has filed a lawsuit against Google over claims of “election interference.”

In the complaint filed by Gabbard’s campaign committee, Tulsi Now Inc., the congresswoman alleges that the search giant suspended her presidential campaign’s Google ad account after the first Democratic primary debates last month.

Gabbard seeks damages of up to $50 million and an injunction prohibiting Google from taking any further action against the account in the future.

The lawsuit alleges the company suspended her advertising account for 6 hours in total following the debates, hurting Gabbard’s ability to raise money and reach out to potential voters. The campaign is accusing Google of violating Gabbard’s First Amendment rights.

“Gabbard quickly became the most searched-for Democratic presidential candidate on June 27-28,” the lawsuit states. “In the crucial post-debate period -- a time when presidential candidates receive outsize interest, engagement, and donations -- Americans around the country wanted to hear more from Tulsi Gabbard.

In a statement provided to Mashable, the search engine explains that a sudden increase in ad spending had caused Rep. Gabbard’s Google Ads account to be automatically flagged.

"We have automated systems that flag unusual activity on all advertiser accounts -- including large spending changes -- in order to prevent fraud and protect our customers,” said Google spokeswoman Riva Sciuto. “In this case, our system triggered a suspension and the account was reinstated shortly thereafter. We are proud to offer ad products that help campaigns connect directly with voters, and we do so without bias toward any party or political ideology."

In the complaint, Gabbard also alleges “Google’s email platform Gmail sends communications from Tulsi into people’s Spam folders at a disproportionately high rate.” The campaign claims Gabbard’s emails land in spam folders at “a rate higher than those from other Democratic presidential candidates.”

The Gabbard campaign quickly announced the lawsuit in a statement on its website using the URL “Tulsi vs. Google.” A breaking news header highlighted on the main pages states “Tulsi Takes Google to Court Over Election Interference.”

In the statement, titled “Tulsi Fights Back Against Big Tech's Dangerous Dominance,” Gabbard frames the lawsuit as another fight against the big tech monopolies that so many Democratic primary candidates have spoken out about this election season.

“Google controls 88 percent of all internet search in the United States – essentially giving it control over our access to information,” says Gabbard’s campaign website. “That’s one reason why Tulsi has been a vocal proponent of breaking up the tech monopolies.”

It should be noted, however, that other Democratic candidates, like Elizabeth Warren, have proposed breaking up the big tech companies, like Google, in the name of consumer protection due to companies’ anticompetitive practices.

Gabbard, however, is contending in her lawsuit that Google is purposefully targeting certain politicians based on their beliefs -- a notion more in line with Republicans’ argument against the big tech companies.