Twitter Urges Termination of Privacy Settlement Amid Escalating FTC Probe

Twitter has asked a federal court to terminate or modify a 2011 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) order that governs how the company stores and uses information about its users. The company claims that the FTC's investigation has "spiraled out of control" and has become biased. Twitter alleges that the FTC has issued numerous burdensome demands, including a request to depose Elon Musk, who is not a party to the consent order. In 2022, Twitter reached a $150 million settlement with the FTC and Department of Justice for allegedly violating the 2011 order. As an alternative to termination, Twitter is asking the court to direct the FTC to provide evidence and pause the enforcement of the agreement. The FTC declined to comment.