Human rights activist – Ali Al-Ahmed has filed legal action against American microblogging and social networking site Twitter. The Saudi Arabian is reported to alleging Twitter to have conspired with the government of Saudi Arabia by hiring two people who have spied and accessed his personal information. The suit indicts Twitter of carelessness and negligence in its ability to identify the spies within its company. These spies are currently facing indicting charges from federal prosecutors of the U.S which has prevented them from further sharing personal information with the Saudi government.
Ali Al-Ahmed, who is the technical head of the human rights advocacy organization, Institute for Gulf Affairs, has been a frequent critic of the Saudi government. Al-Ahmed claims that the microblogging site should not have the right to disclose or share its private information under its own privacy policy. Al-Ahmed further claims that Twitter should have done everything it takes to have protected his information. Al-Ahmed gives up the names of two men in his suit, he explained that these two men were indicted last year by federal prosecutors for working as agents of the Saudi government while employed at Twitter several years ago.
In the lawsuit against Twitter, Al-Ahmed also reveals that in 2018 his Twitter account was suspended without a reason and despite several attempts of appealing is yet to be reinstated. The lawsuit further alleges that Twitter has kept Al-Ahmed’s Arabic-language account inaccessible in a bid not to offend the Saudi government.
The complaint states that “While Twitter may wish to play the victim of state-sponsored espionage, Twitter’s conduct in punishing the victims of this intrigue, including Mr. Al-Ahmed, tells a far different story: one of ratification, complicity, and/or adoption tailored to appease a neigh beneficial owner and preserve access to a key market, the [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia].” Al-Ahmed wants an immediate reinstatement of his Arabic-language Twitter account, as well as unspecified damages. Twitter is yet to make comment on the subject.
Olagoke Ajibola is a creative writer and content producer with an eye for details and excellence. He has a demonstrated history of telling stories for TV, Film and Online. Aside from being fascinated by the power of imagination, his other interest are travel, sport, reading and meeting people.
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