Twitter is set to hand over access to its complete data stream to Elon Musk, allowing the billionaire to accurately assess levels of spam bot activity on the Big Tech platform.
In a report from the Washington Post, a Twitter insider claimed that the Big Tech platform was preparing itself to release its full “firehose” of data to Musk as early as this week. The full data stream comprises not only all 500 million tweets per day, but also information about the accounts in question, including what devices they posted on.
Musk and his legal team argued this week that Twitter was engaging in a “clear material breach” of their acquisition contract by not providing full information about the actual level of spam bot and fake account activity on their platform.
“Twitter has, in fact, refused to provide the information that Mr. Musk has repeatedly requested since May 9, 2022 to facilitate his evaluation of spam and fake accounts on the company’s platform,” an SEC filing asserted.
“Twitter’s latest offer to simply provide additional details regarding the company’s own testing methodologies, whether through written materials or verbal explanations, is tantamount to refusing Mr. Musk’s data requests,” the filing continued.
“Twitter’s effort to characterize it otherwise is merely an attempt to obfuscate and confuse the issue,” they argued. “Mr. Musk has made it clear that he does not believe the company’s lax testing methodologies are adequate so he must conduct his own analysis.”
By providing access to the full data stream, Twitter aims to end the stand off that started last month when Musk first declared that the acquisition deal was on hold, pending an investigation that would support their calculation that spam bot and fake account activity only amounted to 5% of users, the Washington Post noted.
Around 24 companies currently have access to this full data stream, which they pay Twitter for. Neither Musk nor Twitter have made public comment on the potential release of the data stream, with a Twitter spokesman referring reporters to a previous statement from Monday.
“Twitter has and will continue to cooperatively share information with Mr. Musk to consummate the transaction in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement,” the statement said. “We believe this agreement is in the best interest of all shareholders. We intend to close the transaction and enforce the merger agreement at the agreed price and terms.”
