Trump sued over Truth Social's $100,000 early access service
The suit challenges Truth Social plan selling early access to Trump's market-moving posts.
Donald Trump is facing a lawsuit from two American media organizations concerning a new Truth Social offering that charges as much as $100,000 monthly for expedited access to his posts.
The Intercept and Freedom of the Press Foundation initiated the legal action on Wednesday in a New York federal court.
The lawsuit contends that providing priority access to the former president's communications is "extraordinary, corrupt and unconstitutional," raising significant concerns.
The BBC has reached out to the Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the owner of Truth Social, and the White House for their comments. TMTG has previously dismissed criticisms regarding the paid service.
This paid Truth Social service provides subscribers with almost instantaneous delivery of Trump's posts, appearing mere seconds before they become available to the general public. The plaintiffs assert that these brief moments are crucial because Trump frequently utilizes the platform to announce significant developments, such as during the Iran war, which can influence financial markets.
They argue that this arrangement grants an unfair advantage to those who can afford it, establishing a system where market-sensitive information reaches paying clients ahead of others.
Currently, over 10 companies are paying up to $100,000 each month for rapid access to Truth Social posts.
Trump Media and Technology Group has stated that the product is designed for businesses seeking quicker data feeds and has dismissed worries about how the information is utilized.
The company introduced the service, named Truth API, in mid-July, stating it would deliver posts from Trump and other prominent accounts in milliseconds.
Trump is the most followed individual on the platform, with approximately 13 million followers, surpassing his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who has around 7.5 million followers.