Elon Musk might owe a debt of gratitude to some of the platform's employees. Despite Musk's directives, Twitter workers chose not to comply with his demand to provide unrestricted access to company data for journalists. Here are the details.
Elon Musk, the owner of X (previously Twitter), might owe a debt of gratitude to some of the platform's employees. Despite Musk's directives, Twitter workers chose not to comply with his demand to provide unrestricted access to company data for journalists. This act of defiance may have shielded Musk from potential legal consequences from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Business Insider reported.
However, a letter from FTC Chair Lina Khan to House Republicans, reviewed by Business Insider, confirmed that Twitter had not violated any regulatory terms. This was attributed to the actions of longstanding IT personnel at Twitter who disregarded Musk's instructions and prevented journalists from accessing the platform's internal systems.
Earlier, in May 2022, the FTC had fined Twitter $150 million for misleadingly collecting user data by selling users' phone numbers and email addresses to advertisers. Among the stipulations accompanying the fine was a requirement to bolster user data security measures, including limitations on employee access to personal data.
The revelation of Twitter employees' refusal to comply with Musk's demands underscores the significance of internal checks and balances within organizations, particularly in navigating legal and regulatory frameworks. Musk's thwarted directives serve as a reminder of the importance of adhering to established guidelines to maintain compliance and mitigate legal risks.
Besides, Elon Musk, who is also the CEO of SpaceX, recently urged humanity to extend its reach beyond Earth, emphasising the need for a moon base and cities on Mars. Musk expressed his disappointment that half a century has elapsed since the last Moon landing, underscoring the historical significance of the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, which marked the first time humans set foot on the lunar surface.
Reflecting on the achievement of the Apollo 11 mission, Musk noted the rapid progress from the first flight to the Moon landing in just 66 years. However, he highlighted the lack of subsequent lunar attempts over the past 50 years,
The FTC had initiated an investigation into Twitter, now rebranded as X, in December 2022 following the publication of the "Twitter Files" by a group of journalists. These files offered insights into the company's activities preceding Musk's appointment as CEO earlier that year.
Testimony submitted to the FTC revealed that Musk had insisted on granting reporters "full access to everything at Twitter," contrary to government regulations that imposed restrictions on the platform's data and security practices.