Twitter general counsel steps down

{mosads}”As for me, it has been my privilege to work and fight on behalf of great companies and their users over the last decade. A privilege and a lot of work,” Macgillivray wrote on his personal blog. “So, I’m looking forward to engaging my various internet passions from new and different perspectives, seeing friends and family without distraction, and just goofing off a bit. We should all do more of that.”

As Twitter’s top lawyer, Macgillivray was involved with legal battles with police to protect user information and with the company’s decision to publish regular reports on government surveillance and copyright removal requests. He also oversaw the creation of Twitter’s Washington office and the hiring of its first lobbyist. 

Twitter’s Washington office, which is led by Colin Crowell, had reported to Macgillivray but will now report directly to CEO Dick Costolo, according to a Twitter spokesman.