Court Orders Twitter To Submit Names Of Officials Who Know Spam And Bots

Twitter is required to provide the names of officials who know bot accounts. (photo: doc. pixabay)

JAKARTA - Monday, August 15, a court ordered Twitter Inc to provide Elon Musk with documents from the former Twitter executive named by the Tesla CEO as a key figure in counting the number of fake accounts on the micro blogging platform.

Bots and spam accounts on Twitter have become a central issue in the legal battle over whether Musk, who is Tesla Inc's chief executive, should complete his $44 billion acquisition of the social media company.

Twitter was ordered to collect, review and produce documents from its former General Manager of Consumer Products, Kayvon Beykpour, pursuant to an order from Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Twitter and lawyers for Musk, the world's richest man, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this court order when contacted by Reuters.

Beykpour, who left Twitter after the social media company agreed in April to be acquired by Musk, was described in a court filing by Musk as one of the executives "most closely involved" in determining the number of spam accounts.

Beykpour also did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent via LinkedIn.

McCormick said in his order Monday, August 15, that he rejected Musk's request for access to 21 other people with control over the relevant information.

Musk's legal team wrote to McCormick last week asking him to order Twitter to hand over employee names so they can be questioned about bot and spam accounts.

Musk accused Twitter earlier this month of fraud by misrepresenting the actual number of active users on its platform. But the allegations have been denied by Twitter. Instead Twitter accused him of violating his agreement to acquire the company and wants McCormick to order him to complete the deal at $54.20 per share.

Currently Twitter shares closed up 0.5% at 44.50 US dollars per share on Monday, August 15. The tough feud from Musk and Twitter itself has made the value of this stock continue to climb, although it has not yet reached the value in the agreement between Musk and Twitter.