Twitter fired an employee revealing users' accounts for Saudi Arabia

On Saturday, The New York Times reported that a few years ago, Western intelligence officials warned Twitter that Saudi Arabia selected a worker to track down the accounts of users who made negative comments on the government.

Citing from unknown sources,  in late 2015, Twitter was warned about the so-called Saudi spy and advised to carry out investigations. The Times also revealed the company still dismissed its employee in December 2015, albeit it could not uncover any proof the worker transferred data of users to the Saudis. Additionally, Twitter warned a few dozens of users that their accounts might have been objectives in the same month.

According to the Times report, it's easy to see the Saudis government's effectiveness in intimidating dissenters into silence on Twitter. Reportedly, the Saudis have hired troll armies to harry, intimidate and prevent those who deprecate the government as well as to mislead the other owners from the discussions critical of the government.

This is also an extra warning about the social media platforms’ negative side which is used to circulate disinformation, propaganda and other messages which are disruptive. Considering state actors’ efforts on meddling in the elections of rival countries through social media, all the services such as Facebook, Google’s YouTube, Twitter and the like are under the surveillance.

Twitter refused to give out its comments except for the report from the Times. The Saudi embassy in Washington is also asked for making comments but it did not act immediately.