Twitter spy case highlights tech giants face data risks from not just hackers, but also rogue employees

The two Saudis and one American allegedly worked together to unmask the ownership details behind dissident Twitter accounts on behalf of Saudi Arabia

Analysts say the incident shows how massive databases held by tech giants can be targets for intelligence agencies

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A man uses Twitter at a coffee shop in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo: AP

Published: 1:45pm, 9 Nov 2019Updated: 10:22pm, 9 Nov 2019

The allegations that former Twitter employees spied for Saudi Arabia underscore the risks for Silicon Valley firms holding sensitive data which make the platforms ripe for espionage.

The two Saudis and one United States citizen allegedly worked together to unmask the ownership details behind dissident Twitter accounts on behalf of the Riyadh government and royal family, according to a US federal indictment.

One of the suspects, Ali Alzabarah, a Saudi citizen, was accused of accessing the personal information of more than 6,000 Twitter accounts in 2015 on behalf of Saudi Arabia.

Analysts say the incident shows how massive databases held by Silicon Valley giants can be juicy targets for intelligence agencies, which can often apply pressure to company insiders.

For companies collecting massive amounts of data, the challenge is how to keep it secure not only from hackers, but from rogue employees.

Adrian Shahbaz, researcher

“The Twitter case shows how data is not only an asset but a liability for companies,” said Adrian Shahbaz, research director for technology and democracy at the human rights group Freedom House.

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