Elon Musk says Twitter deal ‘cannot move forward’ until he has clarity on bot numbers

Musk’s plan to buy Twitter has worried policymakers around the world.

Joe Skipper | Reuters

Elon Musk has said his $44 billion purchase of Twitter will not move ahead until he has more clarity on how many accounts are fake.

Twitter estimated in a filing earlier this month that fewer than 5% of its monetizable daily active users during the first quarter were bots or spam accounts.

But Musk estimates that around 20% of the accounts on Twitter are fake or spam accounts and he’s concerned that the number could be even higher.

“My offer was based on Twitter’s SEC filings being accurate,” Musk tweeted early Tuesday morning. “Yesterday, Twitter’s CEO publicly refused to show proof of <5%. This deal cannot move forward until he does.”

A spokesperson for Twitter did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated shortly.

Source

Technology

The Peace Corps gets AI-revamp: Trump launches ‘Tech Corps’ to boost U.S. influence

February 23, 2026

Global betwork concept using maps from NASA. Fotograzia | Moment | Getty Images As competition with China intensifies, Washington is turning to a cornerstone of American soft power and diplomacy to expand its global influence in artificial intelligence: the Peace Corps. The White House on Friday announced the “Tech Corps” initiative within the Peace Corps aimed […]

Technology

National Parent Teacher Association breaks ties with Meta amid child-safety trials

February 20, 2026

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves the Federal Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles after defending the company in a landmark social media addiction trial in Los Angeles, United States, on February 19, 2026. Jon Putman | Anadolu | Getty Images The National Parent Teacher Association is splitting with Meta as the social media giant’s high-profile child-safety […]

How the Supreme Court’s decision affects Apple and its .3 billion tariff bill

Technology

How the Supreme Court’s decision affects Apple and its $3.3 billion tariff bill

February 20, 2026

Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc., during the 60th presidential inauguration in the rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. Bloomberg | Getty Images Apple’s tariff bill has racked up about $1 billion per quarter, but that number should start shrinking following the Supreme Court decision […]