Tech Platforms and a High‑Profile Settlement
Key Vocabulary
Listening
Tech Platforms and a High‑Profile Settlement
YouTube is owned by Alphabet, the parent company of Google. YouTube agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit by Donald Trump. He sued after his account was suspended following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Twenty-two million dollars will go to the Trust for the National Mall to help build a White House State Ballroom. The remaining $2.5 million will be shared with other plaintiffs, including the American Conservative Union and author Naomi Wolf. YouTube did not admit wrongdoing. Meta and X settled similar lawsuits earlier in 2025. YouTube said the settlement does not change its rules or products. Trump’s YouTube account was reinstated in 2023.
Quiz
Reading Practice
Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.
Discussion
Do you use any video sites like YouTube? How often do you watch videos online?
Have you ever had an online account suspended? What happened?
What do you think when a company pays to end a legal case instead of going to trial?