No, I'm pretty sure he's referring to the whole Gawker vs. Hulk Hogan trial thing, which was one of the biggest attacks on freedom of the press in recent history.
How is what Thiel did any different from what a nonprofit like the EFF or ACLU does every day? They identify legal cases they feel are important, and offer material assistance to the side they agree with.
(Not attempting to defend either Thiel or Gawker, just honestly curious.)
Well, EFF or ACLU support a broad number of cases every year that align with their mission statements. Thiel's involvement may be similarly principled and nondiscriminatory, but since his involvement was just on one case against an entity he dislikes, it is much easier to believe he just supported whatever legal action that let him use the judicial system as a weapon against them.
Another major difference is the concentration of power. EFF and ACLU are supported by thousands of volunteers and donors and must be accountable to them. Thiel is one person. The ability for an organization to attack a media company is significantly less of a threat than the ability of a single person to attack them.
How is what Thiel did any different from what a nonprofit like the EFF or ACLU does every day? They identify legal cases they feel are important, and offer material assistance to the side they agree with.
(Not attempting to defend either Thiel or Gawker, just honestly curious.)