Elon Musk's ownership of
Twitter descended deeper into chaos as key security
executives resigned from the platform, drawing a sharp warning from US
regulators.
اضافة اعلان
The walkouts came after a turbulent launch of new Twitter features following
the Tesla and SpaceX owner's $44 billion buyout of the influential messaging
app.
Musk warned employees Thursday that the site was burning through cash
dangerously fast, raising the specter of bankruptcy if the situation was not
turned around.
"I've made the hard decision to leave Twitter," tweeted chief
security officer Lea Kissner, who reportedly stepped down with other key
privacy or security executives.
In the most extraordinary exit, US media reported that Yoel Roth -- the
site's head of trust and safety -- stepped down just a day after staunchly
defending Musk's content moderation policy to advertisers.
Late on Thursday, Roth's Twitter bio identified him as "Former Head of
Trust & Safety at @Twitter."
Media reports had said Robin Wheeler, who held a key role linking Twitter
with advertisers and was considered a key Musk ally inside the company, was
leaving but late Thursday she tweeted: "I'm still here."
The site's update included a launch of the long-awaited Twitter Blue
subscription service, which allowed users to pay $7.99 per month for a coveted
blue tick, as well as a separate gray "official" badge for some
high-profile accounts.
But on Wednesday Musk scrapped the new gray label almost immediately,
overshadowing the launch of the paid service, which is only available on the
mobile app on iPhones and in the United States.
The launch also saw the emergence of a flurry of fake accounts as users used
the opportunity to impersonate celebrities and politicians such as NBA star
LeBron James or former British prime minister Tony Blair.
- 'Deep concern' -
The chaos drew a rare warning from the Federal Trade Commission, the US
authority overseeing consumer safety that had put Twitter under watch for past
security and privacy breaches.
"We are tracking recent developments at Twitter with deep
concern," an FTC spokesperson said in a statement.
"No CEO or company is above the law, and companies must follow our
consent decrees," the spokesperson added, referring to past commitments by
Twitter to obey US privacy rules.
Violating FTC decisions could cost Twitter millions of dollars in fines.
Musk fired half of the 7,500 employees of the California company a week ago,
10 days after buying the site and becoming its sole owner.
For the first time since the layoffs, the 51-year-old entrepreneur on
Thursday addressed his remaining employees and urged them to help the site
reach one billion users, according to employee text messages seen by AFP.
Musk also warned that the company was bleeding cash and expressed fear about
the effects of the poor economy on his newly bought business.
"You may have noticed I sold a bunch of Tesla stock. The reason I did
that is to save Twitter," he is reported to have said.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives warned that the Twitter episode could have serious
repercussions for electric car manufacturer Tesla.
"Brand destruction is our biggest worry with this Twitter circus show.
It's that simple and I can't ignore it for Tesla stock," Ives wrote on the
site.
Twitter is also crippled by the decision of advertisers to stay away from
the platform, concerned about Musk's plans.
The tycoon announced he was ending work-from-home policies at Twitter, which
had been a widespread practice at the San Francisco-based company.
"If you don't show up at the office, resignation accepted," he
told employees.
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