Reuters sacks embattled deputy social media editor

A deputy social media editor for Reuters has been fired, and is also under federal indictment for conspiring with Anonymous hackers. The indictment sights that Matthew Keys was providing the group with log-in credentials for a Tribune Company computer server.

A spokesperson for Thomson Reuters acknowledges that indeed Keys was no longer with the company, effective Monday, and declined further comment.

Outlined in the press release from March, 2013 the three-count indictment alleges that in December 2010 Keys provided members of the hacker group Anonymous with log-in credentials for a computer server belonging to KTXL FOX 40’s corporate parent, the Tribune Company. According to the indictment, Keys identified himself on an Internet chat forum as a former Tribune Company employee and provided members of Anonymous with a login and password to the Tribune Company server. After providing log-in credentials, Keys allegedly encouraged the Anonymous members to disrupt the website. According to the indictment, at least one of the computer hackers used the credentials provided by Keys to log into the Tribune Company server, and ultimately that hacker made changes to the web version of a Los Angeles Times news feature.

During a phone conversation with Reuters, Keys says that the there was no mention of the indictment as a reason for his termination, but the move was not unexpected.

He believes that they were looking for an "out", and goes on to say that “It’s my understanding that Reuters did not agree with some of the coverage I did on my own during the Boston Marathon events from last week,” Keys said in an interview shortly after he announced he had been fired from Reuters. “And they have a specific set of reasons for the termination which I don’t agree with and the union that represents me does not agree with. We are in agreement, the union and myself, that I have done nothing wrong, that the basis for the termination is incorrect and doesn’t hold any water.”

Keys himself has made a lengthy statement on his blog and outlines the the reasons for his firing, which include that he violated a grievance aired by the company in a written warning issued in October 2012, and the same activity violated the company’s Trust Principles.

Keys is upbeat, and states that "I’ve been in the unemployment boat before. It’s led to better things. A few people have already reached out to me with possible job offers since this morning."

He makes no further mention of the indictment, which the sentence could be a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The conspiracy count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.