that while Twitter alleges that bots account for approximately five percent of its platform, the number is closer to 20 percent.
Zatko alleges that Twitter arrives at its official percentage of bots by only sampling from a subset of accounts known as “monetizable daily active users,” or mDAUs. But this metric, which was created to give advertisers an idea of how many real humans are looking at their ads, already is designed to exclude bots.
Musk’s legal team is due to appear in Delaware Chancery Court on Wednesday for a hearing on his ability to demand information about Twitter’s internal practices and user data. One source claims that Musk’s team is likely to use Zatko’s whistleblower complaint to bolster their arguments against Twitter and seek more time.
Twitter has disputed Zatko’s claims, with a spokesperson stating: “Twitter fully stands by … our statements about the percentage of spam accounts on our platform, and the work we do to fight spam on the platform, generally.” Alex Spiro, a partner at Quinn Emanuel who is representing Musk in his legal battle with Twitter commented: “We have already issued a subpoena for Mr. Zatko, and we found his exit and that of other key employees curious in light of what we have been finding.”