In the latest amidst the ongoing twitter lawsuit saga, the social media company Twitter, now rebranded as X, faces grave allegations of ignorance in aiding human rights abuses, particularly within Saudi Arabia.
Areej al-Sadhan, sister of a Saudi aid worker unjustly sentenced to 20 years in prison, initiated this lawsuit, which has now taken a troubling turn.
The Twitter lawsuit which was initially filed in May, revolves around the infiltration of Twitter by three Saudi agents in 2014 and 2015. Two of these agents posed as Twitter employees, leading to the arrest of Abdulrahman al-Sadhan and the revelation of thousands of anonymous Twitter users, some of whom suffered detention and torture as part of Saudi Arabia’s campaign to crackdown on dissent.
The recent update to the lawsuit makes startling claims against Twitter, suggesting that the company, under former CEO Jack Dorsey’s leadership, was aware of the Saudi government’s campaign against critics but chose to ignore it. Allegations include financial motives and the desire to maintain a close relationship with the Saudi government, a big investor in the company.
Twitter, originally hailed as a catalyst for democratic movements during the Arab Spring, began to raise concerns in Saudi Arabia as early as 2013, ultimately leading to the events in question.
These allegations come in the wake of a Saudi court sentencing Muhammad al-Ghamdi to death solely based on his social media activity. Human Rights Watch has strongly criticized this action as an alarming escalation in Saudi Arabia’s suppression of freedom of expression.
The Twitter lawsuit points to the actions of Ahmad Abouammo, later convicted in the US for acting as a secret Saudi agent, who began sharing confidential user data with Saudi authorities in December 2014. It alleges that Abouammo sent a message via Twitter’s messaging system promising to “delete evil,” referring to the identification and harm of perceived Saudi dissidents.
Twitter, now known as X, has not yet responded to these allegations.
Additionally, the Twitter lawsuit argues that the company had sufficient knowledge of security risks, including insider threats, based on publicly available information at the time. It claims that Twitter failed to take appropriate measures despite these glaring warning signs.
Even after Abouammo’s resignation in May 2015, he continued to facilitate requests from senior Saudi officials for the identities of confidential users on behalf of the “old partners in the Saudi government,” according to the lawsuit.
The Twitter lawsuit also alleges that the company approved emergency disclosure requests (EDRs) from Saudi authorities, often on the same day they were filed, to obtain documentation confirming a user’s identity.
Red Flag in the Twitter Lawsuit :
Between July and December 2015, Twitter is accused of granting information requests to Saudi Arabia “significantly more often” than to other countries, including Canada, the UK, Australia, and Spain.
Despite becoming aware of FBI concerns regarding Saudi infiltration in September 2015, the lawsuit contends that Twitter did not prevent Ali Hamad Alzabarah, one of the implicated Saudis, from accessing confidential user data, even though he had previously accessed a Saudi user’s account.
Furthermore, the Twitter lawsuit alleges that the company’s failure to provide crucial information to exposed users put them at risk, suggesting that some users might have had the opportunity to escape Saudi Arabia if they had understood the extent of the danger.
Even when Twitter was cognizant of the breach, it continued to engage with Saudi Arabia, considering the kingdom a vital partner in the region. Approximately six months after the FBI raised concerns, Jack Dorsey met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
As this lawsuit unfolds, it raises critical questions about Twitter’s actions and potential complicity in human rights abuses, underscoring the need to prioritize user data protection and freedom of expression across the world.
Twitter, now X, and its former CEO Jack Dorsey have yet to comment on the recent developments.
The Twitter lawsuit sheds light on a disturbing chapter for the company, highlighting allegations of ignorance that have significant implications for the company’s reputation and accountability in the world.
