Twitter Whistleblower To Testify About Social Media's Cybersecurity Concerns in Congress

Former hacker, cyber security expert, and former Twitter cyber security chief Peiter Zatko, also known for his hacker name "Mudge," has accused his former employer of having security flaws, privacy threats, and lax controls. Now, he will be testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee to talk about his concerns about Twitter.

There had been heightened concern over the safety of powerful tech platforms such as Twitter, and according to the Associated Press, senators have voiced their concerns over the matter.

Zatko is a respected cybersecurity expert and had previously testified before a Senate panel along with a hacker collective to talk about the security concerns over the then-emerging internet age. He went on to serve as the head of security for Twitter before he was fired earlier this year.

This led to him reporting to federal regulators and Congress that the social media giant has misled regulators about its cyber defenses as well as its efforts to control spam and fake accounts. He also filed complaints to the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission that Twitter falsely claimed that it had already placed "stronger" measures to protect the security and privacy of its users.

The SEC had previously raised concerns about bots and fake accounts, as they have no value to advertisers because there is no person behind them.

According to Illinois Democrat Senator Dick Durbin, if the allegations are found to be true, this shows that there are "dangerous data privacy and security risks for Twitter users around the world."

READ MORE: Elon Musk's Twitter Drama Takes New Twist: Tesla CEO Might Be Forced to Complete $44 Billion Purchase

Facebook Whistleblower Agrees With Twitter Whistleblower, Says Why His Testimony Is Important

Frances Haugen, who was a whistleblower against another social media giant Facebook, stated that people should be shocked by weak security systems such as the deficiencies revealed by Zatko.

Haugen talked to NPR about Zatko, and told them that while the public assumes that social media companies like Facebook and Twitter have "deep pockets" to maintain security, their security management is often weak and warned that "if a data center went down, Twitter might not be able to turn itself back on."

She added that companies such as these often underinvest in security and they should be held accountable and transparent as these big tech giants are running critical pieces of communication infrastructure.

According to the Tech Executive-Turned-Whistleblower, these social media companies would rather invest more in growth than security or better protection of their users' data, as this does not lead to greater audiences.

Elon Musk Can Use Evidence Presented by the Twitter Whistleblower

The Delaware judge overseeing the legal battle between Elon Musk and Twitter has ruled that the Tesla CEO can use Zatko's allegations in their high-stakes trial when it begins on October 17. The reason for this court battle was that Twitter wanted Musk to push through with buying the company, but Musk wanted to cancel his purchase because of the bot problem.

Twitter has hinted that the Zatko allegations have been designed to bolster Musk's case. However, the former hacker spoke to Time Magazine and said that he had never even met Musk before.

The Senate hearings on Twitter's cyber security problems will begin on Tuesday, just hours before the Twitter Board will be discussing its future on whether or not to go through the sale to Elon Musk.

READ MORE: Elon Musk Gets Denied in Attempt to Delay Twitter Lawsuit Trial; Judge Says It 'Threatens Irreparable Harm'