Elon Musk attempts to circumvent the orders issued during the Twitter era by claiming 'Twitter no longer exists.'

Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX , acquired Twitter (now X) in 2022 and subsequently changed its name to X. Musk is now demanding that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) revoke the settlement order it issued against Twitter in 2022, claiming that 'Twitter no longer exists.'

FTC Seeks Comment on X Corp. Petition to Set Aside or Modify FTC Order Concerning Twitter | Federal Trade Commission
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/06/ftc-seeks-comment-x-corp-petition-set-aside-or-modify-ftc-order-concerning-twitter

FTC considers setting aside or modifying $150 million privacy penalty against X | The Record from Recorded Future News
https://therecord.media/ftc-considers-modifying-150-million-twitter-privacy-fine

Elon Musk tries again to escape FTC audits of X data handling - Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/06/elon-musk-tries-again-to-escape-ftc-audits-of-x-data-handling/

Between 2013 and 2019, Twitter collected users' phone numbers and email addresses for 'security purposes,' such as enabling multi-factor authentication. However, it was later discovered that this information was actually being used for targeted advertising and other purposes. A staggering 140 million users provided their phone numbers and email addresses during the period in question.

In response, the FTC argued that if so many users had known how Twitter would use their information, they would not have provided it, and therefore Twitter's data protection measures were inadequate. In addition to fineping Twitter $150 million (approximately 19 billion yen at the time), the FTC also announced that it would monitor Twitter's data protection practices until 2042.

Twitter to pay 19 billion yen in fines to the Federal Trade Commission for misuse of personal information - GIGAZINE

Following these measures, Musk acquired Twitter and in 2023 asked the FTC to revoke the order . The FTC countered that Musk had fired key staff who had ensured compliance at Twitter for many years and had intimidated employees, and therefore the FTC still needed to monitor Twitter's compliance. The court also ruled that it did not have the authority to overturn the FTC's order, and Musk's attempt failed.

However, in a petition (PDF file) submitted to the FTC in May 2026, Musk argued that the FTC should revoke the 2022 order without delay. One of Musk's arguments was that 'the order was issued to a company that no longer exists, and all the people responsible for the fundamental failure have left the company.'

Since acquiring Twitter, Musk has been steadily erasing all traces of the Twitter era. First, in 2023, he rebranded the company by changing its name from 'Twitter' to 'X'.

Twitter removes the 'Twitter' logo from its headquarters sign; Twitter abandons the blue bird and changes its name to 'X' - GIGAZINE

Then, in 2025, xAI, the AI development company founded by Musk, will acquire X through an all-stock transaction.

Elon Musk announces xAI has acquired X - GIGAZINE

In 2025, the space development company SpaceX acquired xAI.

Elon Musk's SpaceX officially acquires xAI - GIGAZINE

Furthermore, Musk argued that X is already working to comply with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) , and that the FTC's order would stifle freedom of speech on X. He also criticized the FTC's order, stating that President Donald Trump's AI Action Plan encourages free AI development by companies, and that the order would require companies to divert resources from innovation to administrative tasks, potentially contradicting Trump's directives.

The FTC will solicit public comments on Musk's petition until July 2, 2026, and will then make a decision.