F.T.C. Intensifies
Investigation of
Twitter’s Privacy
Practices
Dorothy Lu, Cindy Chen

History with the Federal Trade
Commission (F.T.C.)
Twitter charged for failing to
protect user information after
two 2009 data breaches
2011 2022
Twitter fined for misleading
users about personal data
collection usage
2023
Elon Musk takes over as
CEO, conducts series of
mass layoffs and
budget cuts
Abrupt resignation of
multiple other privacy,
security, and
compliance executives
Former security
executive Peiter Zatko
claiming of security
issues

Article Overview
● F.T.C.’s concerns:
○ Twitter’s management structure
○ Musk’s precise role
○ Whether there are adequate resources to keep up with privacy
obligations
○ Recent sales of office equipment - have computers been wiped of
user data?
● Additional pressure from European Union & US Securities and
Exchange Commission pushing for transparency
● Criticism towards F.T.C. from the House Judiciary Committee

VISION & MISSION
CORE VALUES
Healthy
Conversations
Security and
Privacy
“To reach the largest audience around the world daily by connecting everyone to
their world via our information-sharing platform, to give everyone the power to
create and share ideas and information instantly and without barriers.”
Civic Integrity

Security
and
Privacy
Challenges Twitter’s current status and its ability to:
● follow F.T.C. obligations
● perform according to its own commitments to core values
→ could damage company reputation & consumer satisfaction

Failure to align
with core values
“a Twitter security manager wrote in internal messages seen by The New York
Times that the company could have been … saving some user data for two years”

Authors’
P.O.V.
Does not include much of authors’
personal opinions, but discusses views on
all sides
House Judiciary Committee –
“These demands have no basis in the F.T.C.’s statutory
mission and appear to be the result of partisan
pressure to target Twitter and silence Musk…”
Douglas Farrar, F.T.C. agency spokesperson –
“Protecting consumers’ privacy is exactly what the
F.T.C. is supposed to do...career staff at the
commission are conducting a rigorous investigation
into Twitter’s compliance with a consent order that
came into effect long before Mr. Musk purchased the
company.”

Dorothy – Personal Opinion
● Crucial for industry
consistent transparency
↓
consumer trust
● May require more
resources
○ reinvest in specialized
workforce
● Consider increasing
consumer Interaction
Transparency
● More specific
legislation
● Better
enforcement of
consequences
Legislation and
Enforcement
● Inform
consumers
● Place pressure
on Twitter and
other
companies
Media
Accountability

Cindy –
Personal
Opinion
- Effectively execute strategies
- Generate higher-average outcomes
- Achieve strategic competitiveness
As a result:
- Formulate the vision and mission
- Maintain flexibility
- Heighten the morale and spirits of workers
Role of Leaders:
Strategic Leadership

Cindy – Personal
Opinion
● Highly Influential e.g. #MeToo
● High Market Share and Popularity
● Brand Equity
Strengths
● Increase User Satisfaction
○ Combat fake news/ Misinformation
○ Reduce Abuse/ Harassment
● Ethics and Social Responsibility
Opportunities
● Financial Losses from Lost ad Revenue
● Dissemination of Misinformation & Hate
Speeches
● Data Safety Concerns
Weaknesses
● Keen Competition from Incumbents & New
Entries
● Increased Government Regulations and
Scrutiny
Threats
SWOT Analysis

THANK
YOU!

Works Cited
Article:
Conger, K., Mac, R., & McCabe, D. (2023, March 8). F.T.C. Intensifies Investigation of Twitter’s Privacy Practices.
The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/07/technology/ftc-twitter-investigation-
privacy.html?unlocked_article_code=r8grQRiEq1d6eAW0BddX_RtRqiHiWs2vdry_AYIiGG6xW4FqtcG40t-vx-
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Websites:
https://about.twitter.com/en/who-we-are/twitter-for-good
https://visionarybusinessperson.com/twitter-mission-statement/
https://mission-statement.com/twitter/
Academic Paper:
Ali Abdulridha Jabbar, and Ali Mohammed Hussein. (2017). “THE ROLE OF LEADERSHIP IN STRATEGIC
MANAGEMENT.” International Journal of Research Granthaalayah, 5(5), 99-106.
https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v5.i5.2017.1841.