Twitter Threatens to Sue Meta Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft

Twitter has threatened to sue Meta, alleging that the company stole its trade secrets in order to create its new messaging app Threads.

Threads is a text-based conversation app that allows users to publish posts up to 500 characters long and include links, photos, and videos. It is directly linked to Instagram, allowing users to port across their username and existing network.

In a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Twitter lawyer Alex Spiro accused Meta of hiring “dozens” of former Twitter employees with access to highly confidential information about the platform. Spiro also alleged that Meta had directed these staffers with building Threads, “in violation of both state and federal law.”

Meta has denied the allegations, and both companies have declined to comment further.

The lawsuit comes as Twitter is under new ownership by Elon Musk. Musk has made a number of changes to the platform, including reducing moderation and introducing temporary limits on the number of posts users can view.

It remains to be seen whether Twitter will be able to prove that Meta stole its trade secrets. However, the lawsuit could have a significant impact on the two companies’ rivalry.

In addition to the lawsuit, Twitter is also facing other challenges.

Musk has driven away some users and advertisers with his decision to pare back moderation of the platform and impose disruptive changes to the product and its policies with little warning or explanation.

Musk has also culled about 80 per cent of Twitter’s workforce and ordered dramatic cost-cutting measures in order to pull the company back from the brink of bankruptcy.

It remains to be seen whether Twitter will be able to overcome these challenges and regain its footing. However, the lawsuit against Meta is a significant development that could have a major impact on the company’s future.