Twitter bought by Saudi Arabia

[Dirty Dane]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain...oosts-twitter/

Links pulled.

[cherrylula]

In recent Arab Spring demonstrations, Twitter was the enemy of royal families and brutal dictators across the region. Saudi Arabia was untouched by demonstrations, but what would a big investment from an Arabian prince mean if the protests hit Saudi Arabia as well and threatened to topple the royal family there?

Maybe nothing, maybe not.

But Saudi money reasonably raises concerns ? not because it comes from Muslims or from the Middle East, but because it comes from an autocratic society with a ruling family that has very, very deep pockets and a not-great track record on civil liberties issues.

Then again, our dependence on Saudi oil is likely a bigger problem than any potential conflict of interest in some hypothetical future protest movement.

I?m dubious Twitter would stoop to any form of censorship should this ever take place. Then again, accusations of the company refusing to trend controversial subjects have surfaced in the past. Either way, when it comes to investments into American companies from societies that share few if any of our values, politics, or economic models I think it?s important to at least be watchful.

great. lol.

[baryl]

A 3.75% stake hardly means "bought by Saudi Arabia"

[FreeHugeMovies]

Originally Posted by Dirty Dane

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain...oosts-twitter/

Links pulled.

You need to read the stories before coming up with stupid ass titles like this.

[CyberHustler]

[DamianJ]

Originally Posted by baryl

A 3.75% stake hardly means "bought by Saudi Arabia"

Yes, but what kind of headline is

"Very small % of Twitter is bought by a VC company that a rich Saudi Prince is a majority investor in"

?

[Dirty Dane]

Originally Posted by baryl

A 3.75% stake hardly means "bought by Saudi Arabia"

Maybe your account is part of those percents?

Anyway, I think Twitter should not have accepted money from these regimes.

[Captain Kawaii]

The Saudis, already hated by most of the Arab World must really want a way to censor Twitter. With less than 4 % stake, good luck, but its a start.

[baddog]

Originally Posted by Dirty Dane

Anyway, I think Twitter should not have accepted money from these regimes.

Twitter accepted no money from any regime. They took money from Kingdom Holding Company, not Saudi Arabia.

[Dirty Dane]

Originally Posted by baddog

Twitter accepted no money from any regime. They took money from Kingdom Holding Company, not Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy and the prince own the company

[$5 submissions]

Originally Posted by cherrylula

great. lol.

Good quote. My thoughts: The portion you quoted reeks of the writer's suspect motives. If the writer is worried about this infusion why not worry about the other investments made by this fund. Heck, why not worry about equity buys by many other unsavory regimes' sovereign funds.

The whole Arab Spring / Twitter / Buying = first step to censorship logic is too slippery. Applying Occam's Razor: Bin Talal is just a good investor. Look at his track record - the guy is a buy and hold savant!

[djroof]

real biz....

[Lykos]

Just small part of it...