Twitter Sues DHS, CBP Over Identity of Account User Critical of Government

Twitter is suing the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which are trying to force the company to reveal the identity of Twitter user @ALT_USCIS that criticized departmental officials and the Trump administration, the company said in a Thursday complaint filed with U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California. "The rights of free speech afforded Twitter's users and Twitter itself under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution include a right to disseminate such anonymous or pseudonymous political speech," Twitter's complaint said. It said DHS and CBP shouldn't compel the company to reveal the user's identity "without first demonstrating that some criminal or civil offense has been committed." The company said CBP delivered a March 17 administrative summons, demanding the firm unmask the account. Twitter wants the court to declare the summons "unlawful and unenforceable." A DHS spokeswoman emailed that it doesn't comment on pending litigation.