Elon Musk [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9], the CEO of X (formerly known as Twitter), is currently under investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the US Department of Justice (DoJ) over allegations of mishandling privacy and security issues.
Description
The FTC investigation [2] [3] [4] [5] [7] [8], which has been ongoing since March 2023 [7], focuses on Musk’s oversight of Twitter Blue [7], the company’s premium subscription service [3] [8], and the disclosure of internal Twitter documents [7]. It suggests that Musk may have violated an administrative order that required Twitter to improve its privacy and security measures [7]. The government has also requested Musk’s testimony in court regarding X’s actions [7]. Musk has previously criticized the FTC investigation as a “weaponization” of a government agency [7].
The DoJ investigation raises concerns about Musk’s takeover of Twitter, claiming that it has created a chaotic environment that potentially violated a government order regarding data security and privacy practices [9]. Former employees have provided depositions expressing doubts about Twitter’s compliance with the FTC order. The DoJ argues against X Corp’s attempt to disregard the updated agreement with the FTC [9]. It highlights problems under Musk’s leadership [9], such as the botched relaunch of the Twitter Blue subscription service and site outages [9]. The FTC is also seeking Musk’s internal communications. The DoJ filing counters X Corp’s argument that Musk should not have to testify [9], stating that he possesses unique knowledge about the company’s data practices [9]. X Corp has not provided any comment on the matter.
The FTC has launched an investigation against Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) due to concerns about the company’s lax approach to privacy and security [5]. The investigation stems from a previous settlement where Twitter faced a $150 million fine and committed to specific privacy and security protocols [5]. Evidence uncovered during the investigation suggests that Musk has been deeply involved in the transformation of X Corp [5], potentially jeopardizing data privacy and security [2] [3] [5] [8]. The investigation is focused on the hurried launch of Twitter Blue [5], Musk’s attempts to grant a journalist unmediated access to internal systems [5], and the reorganization of company servers between data centers [5]. The FTC argues that Musk’s rapid layoffs have hindered their ability to investigate the matter [5]. Musk has characterized the investigation as the “weaponization of a government agency for political purposes.” The government attorneys are urging the court to deny Musk’s request to terminate the privacy settlement and are calling for him to testify about his leadership of the company. They claim that Twitter’s mass layoffs may have prevented the company from meeting its obligations in the settlement [6], which involved charges of misleading consumers about privacy and security [6]. The court filing alleges a chaotic environment at the company and argues that Musk has unique knowledge about its data practices and compliance efforts [6]. The FTC has spoken with former executives and employees [6], as many key individuals involved in privacy and data security have either resigned or been terminated [6]. The filing highlights concerns about the rapid implementation of Twitter Blue [6], which bypassed usual security and privacy reviews [6]. It also mentions unheeded security recommendations and the risk of people purchasing verification to impersonate other accounts [6].
Conclusion
The investigations into Elon Musk and X Corp by the FTC and DoJ highlight serious concerns about privacy and security practices within the company. The allegations of mishandling and potential violations of government orders raise questions about Musk’s leadership and the impact it has had on data privacy and security. The ongoing investigations and the request for Musk’s testimony indicate the gravity of the situation. The outcomes of these investigations could have significant implications for X Corp and its future operations.
References
[1] https://gizmodo.com/doj-elon-musk-violated-twitter-privacy-agreement-1850833785
[2] https://mashable.com/article/doj-twitter-x-elon-musk-ftc-order-investigation
[3] https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2023/09/13/ftc-investigates-allegations-elon-musk-undermined-data-privacy-and-security-at-twitter-x/
[4] https://www.claytoncountyregister.com/news2/ftc-says-elon-musk-may-have-jeopardized-data-privacy-and-security-at-twitter/384843/
[5] https://www.androidheadlines.com/2023/09/ftc-investigation-against-twitter-x-data-privacy.html
[6] https://fortune.com/2023/09/13/elon-musk-twitter-x-chaotic-environment-department-justice-privacy-settlement/
[7] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/elon-musk-ftc-twitter-x-privacy/
[8] https://headtopics.com/us/ftc-investigates-allegations-elon-musk-undermined-data-privacy-and-security-at-twitter-x-44291252
[9] https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/13/twitter-elon-musk-takeover-ftc-order-data-security-privacy-doj-case
