Twitter Threatens Legal Action Against Meta’s Threads App
Twitter is considering legal action against Meta over its newly launched Threads app, claiming that the social media giant poached former Twitter employees to create the platform. Threads, a text-based platform reminiscent of Twitter, has gained over 30 million sign-ups since its debut. However, less than 24 hours after the launch, Twitter’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg accusing the company of unlawful misappropriation of Twitter’s trade secrets and intellectual property.
In the letter shared online, Spiro demanded that Meta immediately cease using any Twitter trade secrets or confidential information. Twitter emphasized its intention to enforce its intellectual property rights and threatened legal action if Meta did not comply. Spiro further stated that Meta hired “dozens” of former Twitter employees who had access to Twitter’s trade secrets, alleging that they developed a copycat app using Twitter’s intellectual property.
In response, Meta’s communications director, Andy Stone, denied the claim, stating that no one on the Threads engineering team was a former Twitter employee. The launch of Threads marks one of many Twitter competitors that have gained traction since Elon Musk assumed control of the platform. However, Twitter’s swift response to Threads suggests that it poses the most significant rivalry to the social media giant.
Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and owner of Meta, supported Twitter’s claims in a tweet, affirming that competition is acceptable, but cheating is not. Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino also mocked the new platform in a tweet, asserting that Twitter’s community is irreplaceable.
Musk and Zuckerberg Exchange Banter on Twitter
In a rare move, Mark Zuckerberg posted his first tweet in a decade moments after the launch of Threads, sharing a Spider-Man meme that playfully highlighted the similarities between Threads and Twitter. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg’s silence on the launch had fueled speculation.
Threads appears to be filling a void for dissatisfied Twitter users who are seeking alternatives. While Mastodon and Bluesky have generated considerable interest, neither has experienced the rapid adoption rate witnessed by Threads.
Threads is currently available on iOS and Android in 100 countries but not in the EU due to concerns regarding compliance with local data privacy regulations. To access Threads, users must authenticate using their existing Instagram login credentials, after which the app populates with their account details.
With Twitter facing ongoing criticism and attracting controversy, the emergence of competitive platforms like Threads indicates a growing appetite for alternatives to the social media giant.
