Former British MP plans to sue Twitter in Dublin over Russian label

George Galloway’s lawyers tell social media firm they intend to take case in High Court

Lawyers for former British MP George Galloway have told Twitter that he intends to sue the firm in the High Court in Dublin over his account being labelled "Russian state-affiliated media".

KRW Law, the Belfast law practice that is representing Mr Galloway, wrote to Twitter's European head office in Dublin on Tuesday telling the social media company that they intend to issue High Court proceedings over the label attached to his Twitter account.

The former MP's radio programme The Mother of All Talk Shows has been broadcast on Russian state-owned Radio Sputnik service and can also be viewed online on YouTube.

The Scottish broadcaster and former parliamentarian, who served as an MP for almost 30 years, denies working for Russian media. He has more than 438,000 followers on Twitter.

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He warned Twitter earlier this month that unless the label was removed he would sue the company. The letter from his lawyers marks an escalation of his dispute with the internet firm that is to be taken over by billionaire Elon Musk in a €41 billion deal announced on Monday.

KRW Law told Twitter in the letter that it had failed to receive a response from the company.

“We intend to issue High Court proceedings in Dublin and reserve the right to institute proceedings elsewhere as set out in our detailed letter of claim,” the firm told Twitter’s lawyers.

"Please confirm whether Twitter International Unlimited Company (the company's Dublin subsidiary) require the Irish proceedings to be served on their registered offices or whether your firm has authority to accept service of proceedings."

Twitter has declined to comment.

Simon Carswell

Simon Carswell

Simon Carswell is News Editor of The Irish Times