BEIJING -(Dow Jones)- Eight New York residents have filed a lawsuit against China and Chinese online search provider Baidu Inc. (BIDU), alleging they censored pro-democracy speech in violation of the plaintiffs' U.S. constitutional rights. The plaintiffs allege they have published articles or video programs about the Chinese democratic movement but they are unavailable in searches by Baidu, which the lawsuit calls an "agent and enforcer of the anti-democracy policies" of China. The complaint, filed with the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, seeks damages of $16 million, or $2 million for each plaintiff. Baidu didn't immediately reply to a request for comment. -By Owen Fletcher, Dow Jones Newswires; 8610 8400 7702; owen.fletcher@dowjones.com
