MONTHLY ROUND-UP Social media giant Twitter has agreed to pay $150 million to settle claims it misused private information to target advertising after telling users the data would be used for security reasons only. According to a report by Insider, SpaceX allegedly paid $250,000 in 2018 to resolve claims that CEO Elon Musk sexually propositioned a flight attendant abroad one of the company’s corporate jets. TWITTER TO PAY $150MILLION IN US PRIVACY AND SECURITY SETTLEMENT SPACEX ALLEGEDLY BAILED CEO ELONMUSK OUT OF SEXUALHARASSMENTCLAIM The $150 million settlement covers claims that Twitter misrepresented the “security and privacy” of user data between May 2013 and September 2019. In addition to the monetary settlement, the agreement requires the social media platform to improve its compliance practices. According to the complaint, the misrepresentations violated the FTC Act and a previous settlement with the agency in 2011. “While Twitter represented to users that it collected their telephone numbers and email addresses to secure to buy her a horse in exchange for an “erotic massage.” The flight attendant said she refused Musk’s alleged advances and that, following the incident, found her work shifts were reduced, giving her the impression that she was being punished. In 2018, she filed a complaint with SpaceX’s human resources department. The complaint was resolved without arbitration after the attendant signed an agreement not to sue or to According to Insider, the flight attendant told her friend that the SpaceX CEO had propositioned her in 2016 in his private cabin during a flight to London. Insider cited unpublished documents and their accounts, Twitter failed to disclose that it also used user contact information to aid advertisers in reaching their preferred audiences,” the complaint said. In a statement, Twitter said: “Keeping data secure and respecting privacy is something we take extremely seriously, and we have cooperated with the FTC every step of the way. In reaching this settlement, we have paid a $150M penalty, and we have aligned with the agency on operational updates and program enhancements to ensure that people’s personal data remains secure and their privacy protected.” LM disclose information about Musk or SpaceX in exchange for a $250,000 severance package. In an email to Insider, Musk said there is “a lot more to this story”. “If I were inclined to engage in sexual harassment, this is unlikely to be the first time in my entire 30-year career that it comes to light,” Musk said, calling the story against him a “politically motivated hit piece”. LM emails, as well as a declaration signed by the flight attendant’s friend. Musk allegedly “exposed his genitals” to the flight attendant, touched her leg, and offered 6 WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM | JUN 2022
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