Twitter Whistleblower: CEO Parag Agrawal bemoans 'false narrative'

Former Twitter executive Peiter "Mudge" Zatko said the social media giant has major security problems and accused the company of cybersecurity negligence, which could pose a threat to the personal information of its users, company shareholders and national security, reporting by CNN and The Washington Post has revealed.

Zatko, who was previously the company's head of security of Twitter, was fired from his role in January 2022 over “poor performance and ineffective leadership”.

In his disclosure, Zatko claimed that Twitter had hired two people whom he believes to be foreign government agents. The two had “direct unsupervised access” to internal Twitter data and information, the disclosure revealed.

Also read: Former top Twitter exec sings like a bird, says social media platform riddled with spies, mismanagement & coverups

Predictably, Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, in an internal email, dismissed Zatko's claims as a "false narrative" that is "frustrating and confusing to read".

NEW: First time Twitter CEO @paraga weighs in on whistleblower story.Sending this message to staff this morning. pic.twitter.com/WY4TCqbA5q
— Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) August 23, 2022

Zatko sent the disclosure to the US Congress and federal agencies last month.

In response to the claims, a Twitter spokesperson told CNN that the company has had security and privacy as long-time priorities. The statement said that there were “inconsistencies and inaccuracies, and lacks important context" in the accusations levelled by Zatko.

Also read: Twitter whistleblower may have just bailed out Elon Musk

"Mr. Zatko's allegations and opportunistic timing appear designed to capture attention and inflict harm on Twitter, its customers and its shareholders," the statement added.

Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari shared the news on Twitter, highlighting Zatko's claims about two Indian government agents.

Just concluded a Parlimentary Standing Commitee hearing with Honchos of Big Tech & this emerges moments later@Twitter ‘s Ex security Czar Zatko Indian Govt forced Twitter to put one of its agents on payroll,with access to user data at a time of intense protests in the country pic.twitter.com/ppeCGgDYlm
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) August 23, 2022

Also read: Twitter whistleblower: Spies for foreign agencies are on social media company's payroll

Journalist Anuj Srivas tweeted, calling the news "shocking".

Shocking details from the SEC complaint lodged by former Twitter head of security Peiter Zatko (credit: WaPo), who claims the Indian govt forced Twitter to hire individuals who were "government agents" and had access to user data. pic.twitter.com/NTYcKtZmgd
— Anuj Srivas (@AnujSrivas) August 23, 2022

Christopher Bouzy, founder of Bot Sentinel — a platform against disinformation and targeted harassment online — said he has no doubt that Zatko is being truthful.

The whistleblower alleges that the company is “Lying about Bots to Elon Musk.”
A lot of folks might not have heard of Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, but he is a legend to people like me. If Mudge says this is happening, it is happening. Twitter is about to go through some things.— Christopher Bouzy (@cbouzy) August 23, 2022

Also read: Who is Peiter Zatko, the Twitter whistleblower?

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Twitter Whistleblower: CEO Parag Agrawal bemoans 'false narrative'

Former Twitter executive Peiter "Mudge" Zatko has alleged that the social media giant has major security problems and accused the company of cybersecurity negligence, which could pose a threat to the personal information of its users

By CNBCTV18.COMAug 23, 2022 8:57:25 PM IST (Published)

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Twitter Whistleblower: CEO Parag Agrawal bemoans 'false narrative'

Former Twitter executive Peiter "Mudge" Zatko has alleged that the social media giant has major security problems and accused the company of cybersecurity negligence, which could pose a threat to the personal information of its users

By CNBCTV18.COMAug 23, 2022 8:57:25 PM IST (Published)

Tags

Stampede-like situation disrupts Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav's joint rally in Uttar Pradesh

Ladakh Lok Sabha election: With Independent candidate's entry, it's now a 3-way contest for BJP and Congress

Baramulla Lok Sabha Election: Can Engineer Rashid spring a surprise against Omar Abdullah and Sajad Lone?

Sundargarh Lok Sabha Election: BJP's Jual Oram eyes sixth term, pitted against Hockey India chief Dilip Tirkey

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