Peter Thiel justifies suit bankrupting Gawker, claiming to defend journalism

In a New York Times op-ed, Thiel justified bankrolling the Hulk Hogan sex-tape lawsuit by saying Gawker repeatedly violated people's privacy, including his own

Tech billionaire Peter Thiel defended his decision to finance a lawsuit that bankrupt Gawker Media on Monday, saying the news site was willing "to exploit the internet without moral limits" and "did something beyond the pale" by publishing a former wrestler's sex tape.

Thiel funded a lawsuit by retired wrestler Terry Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, that ended in March with a jury's order that Gawker pay $140m in damages. In June, the media organization filed for bankruptcy and put itself up for auction; the announcement of a new owner is expected Tuesday.