Senior Twitter lawyer resigns, the latest in a series of executive departures

A senior lawyer at Twitter submitted his resignation Thursday, 4 folks conversant in the matter mentioned, changing into the newest in a string of executives to depart the corporate since Elon Musk took it over practically six months in the past.

The lawyer, Christian Dowell, rose to the highest of Twitter’s authorized division in latest months after the corporate’s authorized leaders resigned or had been fired by Musk. Dowell had been intimately concerned in Twitter’s latest negotiations with the Federal Trade Commission, two folks conversant in these discussions mentioned.

The FTC, which at the moment has oversight over Twitter, is trying right into a former govt’s claims that the corporate has had safety issues. The fee accelerated its inquiry after the sudden resignations of three Twitter executives accountable for privateness, safety and compliance. They departed Twitter in November, shortly after Musk acquired the corporate.

The company’s investigation into Twitter has intensified in latest months, and is scrutinizing whether or not the corporate has the assets to uphold its privateness guarantees after mass layoffs and resignations.

Dowell didn’t reply to a request for remark. Musk didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Musk sought to satisfy with a few of the FTC commissioners in latest months to debate the investigation, two folks conversant in his efforts mentioned. Only Christine Wilson, the departing Republican commissioner, accepted his request. Dowell coordinated Twitter’s responses to the FTC’s inquiries and took part in arranging the assembly, these folks mentioned.

Dowell joined Twitter in 2020 after stints on the question-and-answer web site Quora and Facebook, and targeted on product points earlier than he was promoted in December, changing into the top of authorized overseeing Twitter’s product. Beyond the FTC investigation, Twitter is dealing with a bunch of lawsuits over unpaid payments for software program, vendor providers and lease. Former staff have additionally sued the corporate, claiming that it violated labor legal guidelines throughout layoffs.

Dowell’s resignation comes as Musk mentioned he was constructing a “powerful litigation team” at Tesla, his electrical carmaker.

It was not instantly clear who at Twitter would possibly inherit Dowell’s authorized duties.

This article initially appeared in The New York Times.

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