Top privacy chiefs quit Twitter, raising data security questions

A current Twitter employee said several other members of the site’s privacy and security unit also quit.

The Federal Trade Commission, which entered into a consent decree with Twitter in May, said it was “following developments on Twitter with grave concern.”

“No CEO or company is above the law, and companies must follow our consent decrees,” said Douglas Farrar, director of public affairs for the FTC. “Our revised consent order gives us new tools to ensure compliance, and we’re ready to use them.”

Twitter entered into the consent decree with the FTC after allegations that it deceptively used emails and phone numbers it said it collects for security purposes to target users with advertising. The FTC alleged that this violated a 2011 consent decree it entered into with the company.

The new executive order required Twitter to launch enhanced privacy and security programs, which had to be audited by a third party. As part of this program, Twitter is required to conduct a privacy assessment of all new products it launches.

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Slack’s post cited Twitter owner Musk’s back-to-office directive, but also noted that the departures were different from other protests because rapidly releasing products and changes without an effective security review was “extremely dangerous.” for users.

He said engineers would have to bear the burden of certifying that products complied with Federal Trade Commission agreements, which would expose them to substantial personal legal risk.

The post also posted a link to Whistleblower Aid, a law firm that represented former security chief Peiter Zatko when he filed a complaint this year with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other officials citing alleged violations related to the FTC.

Other employees said they were taking paid time off on Thursday as a sign of disapproval.

Kissner, who was brought in by Zatko, was admired on Twitter and seen as crucial support amid the recent chaos.

“Twitter has experienced several major security incidents over the past few years due to poor internal controls and a permissive data architecture,” said Alex Stamos, former chief data security officer at Facebook and Yahoo. “The team [assembled by] Dr. Kissner has made serious progress in closing these loopholes, as Twitter is required to do by FTC consent decree.

Zakrzewski reported from Washington, D.C.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.