Former Twitter Security Chief Accuses Elon Musk’s Advisor of Ordering Drastic Budget Cuts

Introduction

A former security chief at Twitter, Alan Rosa, has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and one of his advisors, Steve Davis, alleging that they ordered significant cuts to the company's physical security budget. Rosa claims that Davis instructed him to reduce the budget by 50% within a few hours, a move that would have put the company at risk of violating federal rules. When Rosa raised concerns about the decision, he was fired just five days later. The lawsuit seeks compensatory, emotional distress, and punitive damages from Musk, Davis, and X.

Background

Elon Musk took over Twitter, renaming it X, on October 28, 2022. During that period, Musk and his advisors had already cut the physical security budget by 50%. However, Davis wanted further reductions. Rosa, as the head of security, objected to the decision, citing the potential violation of a court order requiring Twitter to protect user data and privacy. The building's security staff, responsible for safeguarding over 800 laptops and other devices, were at risk of being cut, which raised concerns about security risks from protestors outside the headquarters.

Drastic Budget Cuts

Rosa's lawsuit alleges that Steve Davis instructed him to cut the physical security budget by an additional 50% within hours. Despite Rosa's objections and concerns about violating court orders, Davis insisted on these drastic cuts. This move would have compromised the company's ability to safeguard user data and privacy, putting Twitter at risk of legal consequences.

Security Risks and Concerns

Rosa expressed concerns about the potential security risks associated with cutting the security staff responsible for overseeing essential devices and laptops. With numerous protestors outside the headquarters, Rosa feared that the reduced security measures could leave the building vulnerable to breaches and compromises.

Rosa's Termination

Shortly after raising his concerns, Rosa received a call from Davis, who informed him that he was no longer in charge of the physical security team and promptly hung up. Five days later, Rosa discovered that he had lost access to the company and effectively been terminated without an official explanation. The lawsuit also claims that Rosa was denied his promised severance package and vested stock.

Legal Matters and Breach of Contracts

Rosa's lawsuit also mentions an incident where Davis instructed him to shut down Salesforce at Twitter, a platform used for sharing time-sensitive and important legal information with law enforcement. Rosa disagreed with this decision and voiced his objections to a vice president of the company's legal team. Many laid-off Twitter employees have already filed lawsuits against Musk and X, claiming breach of contracts and violation of state employment laws.

Conclusion

Elon Musk and his advisor, Steve Davis, are facing a lawsuit from former Twitter security chief Alan Rosa, accusing them of ordering drastic budget cuts to the company's physical security. Rosa raised concerns about the potential violation of court orders protecting user data and privacy, but he was fired just days later. The lawsuit seeks damages from Musk, Davis, and X. This legal battle adds to the challenges faced by Musk and his team since taking over Twitter, including concerns from the Federal Trade Commission about compliance.

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By: mloh@businessinsider.com (Matthew Loh)
Title: Former Twitter Security Chief Accuses Elon Musk’s Advisor of Ordering Drastic Budget Cuts
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/twitter-x-security-safety-cut-budget-lon-musk-steve-davis-2023-12
Published Date: Thu, 07 Dec 2023 03:03:12 +0000