Probably figured out the NSA already had the info...

Why would dropping the lawsuit be good? Take the fuckers to court to establish precedent (unless they think they may lose) really this is why we can't trust corporations to look after civil interests.

The good part is DHS dropping their demand for the tweeter's identity. The lawsuit doesn't need to proceed, it accomplished its purpose. Don't beat up on Twitter, they were the total heroes here.

"The lawsuit from Twitter alleges that DHS demanded to know the name, login information, phone number, mailing address and IP address of the user behind the account and threatened that failure to comply could lead to court actions.

Twitter also says DHS "requested" that the company not reveal the existence of the summons. Twitter did not comply with either the summons or the request for silence — instead, the company is asking a federal court to declare the summons "unlawful and unenforceable.""

How are they heros for literally defending their self interests and business model so they wouldn't be taken to court? I'd rather have had the ACLU, who was going to sue on their behalf, sue (and follow it up) as opposed to backing down. This just leaves the government open to pressure other companies to comply (although with the new SCOTUS backing down might be the wisest thing for now)

Tl;dr: I don't use Twitter, so this heroism doesn't affect me.

"This just leaves the government open to pressure other companies to comply."

However, it also encourages other companies, perhaps smaller ones that would previously have been too intimidated, to also refuse similar DHS "requests."

Perhaps this wasn't the most clear-cut and pro-privacy outcome, but it is among the better possibilities.

Because this was a case where the company's self interest also happened to mesh with the free speech and the greater good. They didn't back down, the basis for the lawsuit ended. You can't go ahead with a lawsuit if there's no longer a reason to sue.

Would be nice if a lawyer chimed in. I'm curious if withdrawing the summons prevents a lawsuit in this situation, or if they can be taken to court for the original summons etc.

"Total heroes" is a bit of a stretch. This is the kind of heroism where you run into the burning building and shove your way past all the puppies and orphans trapped there to rescue the one guy who owes you money instead.

Sure they took a stand based on self-interest, but it happened to be the right stand.
If ACLU backed it, that's good enough for me. Those guys are heroes.
Note that they declared this a "Big victory for free speech and right to dissent.".

I do have a soft spot for the Electric Frontier Foundation and the ACLU.

Twitter had no intention of following through. The publicity was damaging for DHS.