SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 8, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – A US judge has ordered Twitter to


reveal the identity of an anonymous user who allegedly fueled a discredited


conspiracy theory about the 2016 death of a Democratic party worker.

Twitter has been given an October 20 deadline to provide information about


the @whysprtech handle, which was allegedly used to pass on forged FBI


materials about staffer Seth Rich.

Rich was slain in Washington in what police believe was a botched robbery


attempt, according to court documents. The case remains unsolved.

Twitter had fought to keep the identity secret on free speech grounds, but


US District Court Judge Donna Ryu ruled Tuesday that protection has limits.

The identity of the person behind @whysprtech is being sought by Rich’s


brother, Aaron, as part of a defamation lawsuit against defendants including


America First Media and The Washington Times.

The Twitter account may be the source of the bogus FBI report that fueled


the conspiracy theory, and its user could be a valuable witness in the


lawsuit, according to court documents.

In the lead-up to the 2016 US presidential election, WikiLeaks published


emails stolen from the DNC, where Seth Rich was a staff member.

The lawsuit says the defendants wrongly linked Aaron Rich and his brother


to the stolen emails and their transmission to WikiLeaks.

Twitter declined to comment on the ruling.