“We should be concerned that the Saudis, who have a clear interest in repressing political speech and impacting US politics, are now the second-largest owner of a major social media platform,” Sen. Chris Murphy said.
US Democratic Senator for Connecticut Chris Murphy requested on Monday that the Committee on Foreign Investment conduct an investigation into the national security implications of "Saudi Arabia's purchase of Twitter," following Tesla CEO Elon Musk's purchase of the social media giant.
"We should be concerned that the Saudis, who have a clear interest in repressing political speech and impacting US politics, are now the second-largest owner of a major social media platform," Murphy said, adding that there is "a clear national security issue at stake and CFIUS should do a review."
https://rumble.com/embed/v1o2cdm/?pub=2n05b
Murphy noted that China owns Tiktok, making it dangerous to allow Saudi Arabia to control a major social media app that operates in the United States.
https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1587091081920929796
The Saudis, via Prince Alwaleed, said over the weekend that they were the second-largest owner of Twitter following Musk's purchase.
"Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) and the private office of His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (PO) announce the roll over of their ownership of the existing Twitter shares valued at USD 1.89 Billion to the 'New' Twitter, led by Elon Musk, KHC & PO are jointly the second largest investor after Elon Musk," the statement said. "This deal is in line with the long-term investment strategy for which Kingdom Holding Company is known for."
https://twitter.com/Alwaleed_Talal/status/1585975226567110656
The Saudis, via a holding company owned by the country's sovereign wealth fund, hold a major stake in Twitter. Axios reports that "Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which is chaired by crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), owns 16.9 percent of the Kingdom Holding Company."
Saudi Arabia's role in Twitter has been of concern in the past. Earlier this year, a former Twitter employee was jailed after he allegedly spied on behalf of the regime by obtaining information about enemies of the Saudi government on the platform, reports The Guardian.
Earlier this month, the US Department of State said that the Saudi regime sentenced an American citizen, Saad Ibrahim Almadi, to 16 years in prison for criticizing the Saudis on Twitter.
Murphy has been a vocal critic of the Saudis in the past, having said just weeks ago that the US should "rethink" its arms sales to the regime following its support for Russia in the war against Ukraine.
"For years, we’ve looked the other way as Saudi Arabia has chopped up journalists, has engaged in massive political oppression, for one reason: We wanted to know that when the chips were down ... the Saudis would choose us instead of Russia," Murphy said. "Well, they didn’t."
"There's gotta be consequences for that."
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