Schoolboy TalkTalk Hack Suspect Ends Google Legal Action

The Northern Irish schoolboy arrested over a TalkTalk hack has dropped his claim for damages against Google.

The 15-year-old’s legal action was discontinued following a hearing in Belfast’s High Court today.

Negligence

His legal team had been seeking permission to serve proceedings at Google’s US headquarters in an attempt to sue the search company for negligence.

Today’s development comes a month after the County Antrim teenager settled a privacy lawsuit against Twitter.

The teenager was arrested and released on bail in October 2015 by police investigating a highly publicised hack that compromised the personal details of TalkTalk customers, although no charges were brought against him.

As well as taking legal action against Google and Twitter, writs were also issued against The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail and The Sun for alleged breach of privacy.

The teenager’s lawyers claimed negligence, misuse of private information, defamation, breach of confidence and data protection.

Legal steps have since been taken to ensure the removal of details published online about the boy’s name, address, image or information about his physical appearance.

Lawyers said the boy’s family has had to move home due to the publicity around his arrest.

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