The FTC is probing Twitter's layoffs, its subscription service, and the Twitter Files

[midian182]

In context: Elon Musk's time at Twitter has been filled with controversy, from the mass layoffs to the Twitter Blue saga. His decisions have caught the interest of the Federal Trade Commission, which is demanding the company turn over internal communications and is seeking to depose Twitter's billionaire owner.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the FTC has sent 12 letters to Twitter and its lawyers since Musk took over on October 27. The crux of the matter relates to the FTC's $150 million fine it handed Twitter last year over deceptive ad practices that used email addresses and phone numbers submitted for account security purposes, such as two-factor authentication, for targeted ads. Part of that settlement included a guarantee from Twitter to protect users' privacy via a "comprehensive privacy and information security program."

In November, the WSJ reported that Musk told Twitter employees the company will do whatever it takes to follow both the letter and the spirit of the FTC order.

A shameful case of weaponization of a government agency for political purposes and suppression of the truth!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 7, 2023

The FTC is concerned that Musk's decision to lay off more than half of Twitter's staff, including privacy and security chiefs, could have an impact on users' safety, violating the terms of the FTC settlement. "We are concerned these staff reductions impact Twitter's ability to protect consumers' information," an agency official wrote to Twitter's lawyers.

The FTC has also asked Twitter to "identify all journalists" granted access to company records. Part of Twitter's settlement limits internal access to user data, so giving journalists access to internal Twitter systems was likely a settlement violation. These incidents were Musk revealing the so-called "Twitter Files," or internal information related to the company's previous moderation process.

Additionally, the FTC has requested information about the launch of the revamped Twitter Blue subscription service, which one employee said disregarded the company's normal privacy and security review. The FTC also wants to depose Musk in connection with its investigation.

Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee have accused the FTC of overstepping its authority. "There is no logical reason, for example, why the FTC needs to know the identities of journalists engaging with Twitter," reads the Judiciary panel's report. "There is no logical reason why the FTC, on the basis of user privacy, needs to analyze all of Twitter's personnel decisions. And there is no logical reason why the FTC needs every single internal Twitter communication about Elon Musk."

Musk responded to the WSJ report with a tweet calling it "a shameful case of weaponization of a government agency for political purposes and suppression of the truth!"

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/97855-ftc-probing-twitter-layoffs-twitter-blue-twitter-files.html

 

[Ohnooze]

Well of course they are....

 

[psycros]

Where was all this deep concern from regulators when Twitter was literally working for the FBI to insure Biden got elected by any means necessary? Their not even pretending now - the left has its jackboots and brown shirts on full display.

 

[RudyBob]

Political Witchhunt

 

[nnguy2]

Where was all this deep concern from regulators when Twitter was literally working for the FBI to insure Biden got elected by any means necessary? Their not even pretending now - the left has its jackboots and brown shirts on full display.

That's a good angle! The Federal government under Trump's control conspired with the media to get Biden elected, even though Trump won!

 

[wiyosaya]

Where was all this deep concern from regulators when Twitter was literally working for the FBI to insure Biden got elected by any means necessary? Their not even pretending now - the left has its jackboots and brown shirts on full display.

IMO, anyone who takes political information from Twitter should not be allowed to vote. No one needs twitter to tell them how to vote, and to think that Twitter had any significant influence on the election - Maybe we should take the example of what is going on with Fox (fake) News these days - given they have outright admitted that their decisions on what to air and to support Trump's BS election claims was entirely based on one thing - making PROFIT. How much influence did Fox (Fake) News have on the election?

As far as this suit goes, a settlement is a settlement. Given all the crap going on in the GOP right now, its no wonder that Musk is basically calling the FTC a bully even though Musk/Twitter agreed to the terms of the settlement. When Musk bought Twitter, Twitter was still legally bound to the settlement terms and Musk had and still has no right to alter the terms of the agreement to his whims. If twitter is divulging information that it promised to keep private to reporters, that is a violation of the terms of the settlement.

The GOP has become the party of bullsh!tters these days, and the GOP doesn't give a crap. If someone in the GOP lies, that's OK, but blow it all out of proportion and claim its the "left's" fault - when the GOP is outright lying. Ethical behavior has gone out the door in the GOP if it ever even existed.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

IMO, anyone who takes political information from Twitter should not be allowed to vote. No one needs twitter to tell them how to vote, and to think that Twitter had any significant influence on the election - Maybe we should take the example of what is going on with Fox (fake) News these days - given they have outright admitted that their decisions on what to air and to support Trump's BS election claims was entirely based on one thing - making PROFIT. How much influence did Fox (Fake) News have on the election?

As far as this suit goes, a settlement is a settlement. Given all the crap going on in the GOP right now, its no wonder that Musk is basically calling the FTC a bully even though Musk/Twitter agreed to the terms of the settlement. When Musk bought Twitter, Twitter was still legally bound to the settlement terms and Musk had and still has no right to alter the terms of the agreement to his whims. If twitter is divulging information that it promised to keep private to reporters, that is a violation of the terms of the settlement.

The GOP has become the party of bullsh!tters these days, and the GOP doesn't give a crap. If someone in the GOP lies, that's OK, but blow it all out of proportion and claim its the "left's" fault - when the GOP is outright lying. Ethical behavior has gone out the door in the GOP if it ever even existed.

You know, it's always amazing how these articles draw out the most hypocritical people, without fail.

hypocrisy - hy·poc·ri·sy, noun. the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Had the twitter files included a certain mans tax returns, the FTC would be giving Musk a medal of freedom.

The blatant partisan method of enforcing the rules is frankly shameful.

 

[axiomatic13]

Where was all this deep concern from regulators when Twitter was literally working for the FBI to insure Biden got elected by any means necessary? Their not even pretending now - the left has its jackboots and brown shirts on full display.

Bwahahahahahaha! (gasp) Ahahahahahahaha!

 

[Uncle Al]

Wouldn't it be cheaper, easier, and faster simply to take away his business license and any related permits necessary to operate? That used to be an effective way of dealing with bad businesses .... certainly wouldn't cost much to try it again .....

 

[Julnor]

Where was all this deep concern from regulators when Twitter was literally working for the FBI to insure Biden got elected by any means necessary? Their not even pretending now - the left has its jackboots and brown shirts on full display.

Even Fox News admitted there were no reasonable election fraud claims, and are currently defending themselves in court with the excuse that they are not journalists but entertainment that no reasonable person would take seriously. I find their claim facetious because obviously people like you believe them and think they are an actual news source.

Fox News can't have it both ways. They need to be held liable and punished, and then forced to report actual news going forward. People like you are too easily misled and need to be protected by more intelligent people, and that is the duty of the government and journalists. If even then you search out crazy clearly unreputable fringe websites there's obviously nothing to be done about that, but if the biggest sources of alleged journalism are taken out of the equation it's something.

Obviously the GOP doesn't want that because they are the party of grift, but if they can't function without dupes supporting them they really shouldn't exist either. We're going to need an actual third party instead of this farce political theater. And heck why stop at three parties, get a good four or five like a real democracy, like how most of the world does it. If the GOP managed to continue to have support even then, then so be it, that is how a democracy should function, but the current system is a sham.

 

[AlaskaGuy]

Wouldn't it be cheaper, easier, and faster simply to take away his business license and any related permits necessary to operate? That used to be an effective way of dealing with bad businesses .... certainly wouldn't cost much to try it again .....

You mean Soviet Union style?