+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

The whistleblower helping fuel Elon Musk's legal battle against Twitter reportedly got a $7 million settlement in June after he was fired

Sep 9, 2022, 03:26 IST
Business Insider
Ex Twitter security chief Peiter Zatko.Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images
  • Twitter's former head of security, Peiter Zatko, was paid $7M by the company just before filing a whistleblower complaint.
  • The settlement included an NDA, though whistleblower complaints are one exception to such an agreement.
Advertisement

The whistleblower who has become an instrumental part of Elon Musk's legal battle with Twitter was paid a $7 million settlement by the company in June, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Peiter Zatko, Twitter's former head of security, was reportedly paid the settlement in relation to lost compensation after Twitter fired him in January.

The Journal reports that Zatko agreed to a nondisclosure agreement that forbade him from speaking publicly about his time at Twitter or disparaging the company. However, whistleblower complaints are one exception to such an NDA.

Zatko's complaint, which accused Twitter of significant failings in the realm of cybersecurity, and detailed a "drastic loss of focus" from former CEO Jack Dorsey, was made public last month. Zatko's claims have since become instrumental in Elon Musk's case against Twitter.

Musk is currently locked in a battle with Twitter after trying to back out of a legally binding agreement to buy the social media platform, citing Twitter's reluctance to provide him with information about the number of bots and spam accounts on the platform.

Advertisement

The whistleblower complaint contains a section called "Lying about Bots to Elon Musk" and accuses Twitter of misrepresenting how it combats spam accounts.

The company declined to comment, but Twitter has previously described Zatko as a disgruntled former employee and said he was fired for "ineffective leadership and poor performance."

Zatko is set to testify before a committee of the US Senate next week regarding the claims he made in his whistleblower complaint.

You are subscribed to notifications!
Looks like you've blocked notifications!
Next Article