Guido understands that Twitter will hand over the personal details of the Steve Auckland spoof account holder to Northcliffe Media after refusing to back him in his legal dispute with the Daily Mail subsidiary. On Monday Guido published the subpoena filed against Twitter demanding the release of the name, address, phone number and IP address of the account’s author, while Northcliffe chief executive Auckland launched a witch hunt to find the perpetrator. Despite Twitter’s terms of service stating that personal data is the property of the individual and not the company they appear to have abandoned their client, telling him:

“Twitter will do so [release the information] on August 1, 2012. If requested, we can provide copies of any records disclosed. We note that civil procedure does permit you to either file your motion to quash or to serve your objections on the requesting party directly. Twitter cannot provide any advice other than to contact an attorney.”

A lone individual left hung out to dry by a billion-dollar US company as a UK newspaper company tries to stifle his freedom of speech. Guido really hopes it turns out to be someone very close to the boss…