Elon Musk signaled this Saturday that the deal to acquire Twitter for 44 billion dollars could unravel if the platform does not provide clear, verifiable data on how it counts fake or spam accounts. He warned that the proposal might be terminated if the requested metrics prove unreliable or inadequately sourced, casting a shadow over the closing of the transaction.
He argued that the due diligence should include a straightforward 100-sample method and that the numbers must be confirmed as accurate before the agreement proceeds on its original terms. The implication is that without transparent verification, the deal cannot move forward as planned.
Meanwhile, Musk suggested that if the information supplied to regulators proves misleading or false, the closing might not take place as agreed. This stance reinforces his position that the data provided by Twitter is central to validating the economics of the purchase and the legitimacy of the deal’s conditions.
The entrepreneur had previously considered walking away from the 44-billion-dollar agreement, prompting Twitter to respond with legal action aimed at enforcing the completion of the sale. The dispute centers on whether the social network has delivered a trustworthy assessment of fake accounts, a factor Musk says is pivotal to the transaction’s value and risk profile.
From Musk’s perspective, Twitter has not furnished the precise metrics he sought for evaluating fake accounts. Twitter maintains that the requested data is being used as a pretext to avoid finalizing the merger, a narrative that has grown more persuasive to some investors as Twitter’s share price fluctuates and market sentiment shifts.
The formal dispute is set for a trial in mid-October, based on court documents disclosed thus far, unless the parties settle on a different timetable. The proceedings will illuminate how the two sides interpret the impact of fake accounts on user metrics and advertising value, and whether a negotiated settlement becomes possible before a verdict is reached.
Meanwhile, Twitter’s board has called on shareholders to vote on the acquisition, with a decisive meeting scheduled for September and a message urging approval of the deal as the final milestone of the process. The board also notes that the vote occurs under the shadow of ongoing litigation that involves the billionaire, a factor that may influence shareholder sentiment and the overall risk assessment surrounding the transaction.