Democratic senators inform US regulator that Elon Musk has ‘undermined’ Twitter

A bunch of Democratic US senators have written to the Federal Commerce Fee urging the regulator to analyze Elon Musk’s Twitter over issues its new chief govt has “undermined the integrity and security of the platform”.

In a letter addressed to the FTC chair Lina Khan, the seven senators warned that the platform was displaying “critical, wilful disregard for the protection and safety of its customers” since Musk took the helm a number of weeks in the past.

The Democratic lawmakers known as for the patron safety regulator to “vigorously oversee” its 2011 consent decree with Twitter, during which the social media platform pledged to higher shield person information, and to convey enforcement actions the place needed in opposition to the corporate “or particular person Twitter executives”. 

The letter additionally cited Musk’s chaotic rollout of the flagship premium subscription service Twitter Blue, and security leaders and stories that the corporate has now scaled again inner privateness evaluations as a part of cost-cutting efforts.

It comes after a current exodus of security and cyber safety leaders from the corporate, together with Yoel Roth, head of belief and security. On Thursday, Ella Irwin, a vice-president of its well being services and products crew, was appointed as Roth’s alternative, in response to two individuals conversant in the matter.

In the meantime, a brand new wave of workers introduced they have been quitting late on Thursday, after Musk ordered workers to formally register their dedication to an “extraordinarily hardcore” working tradition of lengthy hours by the top of the day or obtain three months of severance.

One staffer stated that “tens” of workers had introduced their departures on the corporate’s inner Slack channels. Many have been sharing emojis of an individual saluting, or a blue coronary heart, in an indication of camaraderie, one other particular person stated.

Twitter has attracted heightened scrutiny from regulators globally since Musk clinched his takeover. European regulators and the Irish Knowledge Safety Fee, the lead European privateness watchdog, have been scrutinising the corporate over comparable issues, the Monetary Occasions reported on Wednesday.

The FTC declined to remark however final week stated that it was “monitoring current developments at Twitter with deep concern”.

It’s the newest problem dealing with Twitter amid Musk’s tumultuous first weeks as its proprietor. Musk laid off half of Twitter’s 7,500-strong workforce inside days of taking the reins.

The cuts and fast modifications have raised fears of a proliferation of misinformation and hate speech on the platform, whereas Musk has paused sign-ups to the Twitter Blue programme after its “blue tick” characteristic was abused by impersonators, concentrating on politicians and types corresponding to Eli Lilly and Lockheed Martin.

“Twitter knew upfront that there was [a] excessive chance the Twitter Blue product may very well be used for fraud, and nonetheless it took no motion to forestall customers from being harmed till this rampant impersonation turned a public relations disaster,” the letter stated. Different signatories included Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Edward Markey and Cory Booker.

Twitter didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.