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Twitter Inc misled federal regulators about its defenses against hackers and spam accounts, CNN and the Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing whistleblower announcements by the social media company’s former security chief Peiter Zatak.
Twitter executives don’t have the resources to fully understand the true number of bots on the platform, and haven’t been motivated to do so, CNN reported, citing Zatka’s complaint.
The social media company is embroiled in a legal battle with Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk after the world’s richest person said in July he was ending a deal to buy the company for $44 billion over alleged breach of contract.
Musk accused Twitter of hiding information about how it calculates the percentage of bots on the service. The trial is scheduled for October 17.
Zaťek’s complaint was filed last month with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice, as well as the Federal Trade Commission, according to the Washington Post.
Zaťko did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment, while Musk could not be reached for comment.
In January, Twitter said that nL1N2U11KV Zatko, a well-known hacker better known as “Mudge,” was no longer head of security, two years after he was appointed to the role.
A Twitter spokesman said Tuesday that Zaťko was fired from his senior executive role in January for “ineffective leadership and poor performance.”
NEW: First time Twitter CEO @paraga weighs in on whistleblower story.
Sending this message to staff this morning. pic.twitter.com/WY4TCqbA5q
— Donie O’Sullivan (@donie) August 23, 2022
“Zatko’s allegations and opportunistic
“Zaťka’s allegations and opportunistic timing appear designed to attract attention and harm Twitter, its customers and its shareholders. Security and privacy have long been and will continue to be company-wide priorities at Twitter.”
John Tye, founder of Whistleblower Aid and Zatko’s attorney, said Zatko has not been in contact with Musk, adding that he began the whistle-blowing process before there were indications of Musk’s involvement with Twitter, CNN reported.
Whistleblower Aid did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
appear designed to capture attention and inflict harm on Twitter, its customers and its shareholders. Security and privacy have long been company-wide priorities at Twitter and will continue to be.”
John Tye, founder of Whistleblower Aid and Zatko’s lawyer, said Zatko has not been in contact with Musk, adding that he began the whistleblower process before there was any indication of Musk’s involvement with Twitter, according to CNN.
Whistleblower Aid did not immediately respond to Reuters’s request for comment.
