State AG Orders Twitter to Rat Out His Critics

Republican candidate for governor wants names, addresses
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted May 19, 2010 2:04 PM CDT
State AG Orders Twitter to Rat Out His Critics
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett addresses the media at a news conference, Tuesday, March 23, 2010, in Harrisburg, Pa.   (Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett has subpoenaed Twitter, demanding it release “any and all subscriber information” for two accounts that seem to mainly specialize in criticizing him. The subpoena orders Twitter to “testify and give evidence regarding alleged violations of the laws of Pennsylvania,” but doesn't specify which laws are supposed to have been violated. Corbett wants the names, contact information, and addresses IP and physical of the accounts.

The owner of one of the accounts, who goes by “Ferrari,” tells TechCrunch that they're asking Twitter not to comply. The subpoena orders Twitter to appear on May 14—last Friday—but Ferrari says he believes the site is asking for more time, since it only got the summons last night. If the site just blows off the order, it could face contempt of court charges. (More Twitter stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X