Security concerns arise after Twitter source code leak

Social media giant Twitter seeks to identify leaker of sensitive information

Twitter has found itself embroiled in a legal controversy as a result of the release of some of its source code online. The social media giant, which is owned by the renowned entrepreneur, Elon Musk, has taken swift action to identify the person or persons responsible for the leak.

According to a legal document filed in the US state of California, Twitter asked GitHub, an online software development platform, to remove the code after it was discovered online without authorisation earlier this month. The New York Times has reported that the source code may have been publicly available for several months before it was eventually taken down. A GitHub profile associated with the DMCA takedown lists a single (non-public) code contribution from early January, and the account was listed as “FreeSpeechEnthusiast.” This is an apparent reference to Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who has previously described himself as a “free speech absolutist.”

Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources. We will not do so unless at gunpoint.

Sorry to be a free speech absolutist.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2022

Although GitHub has since removed the leaked code, Twitter has continued to pursue legal action against the perpetrator. In a court filing, Julian Moore, Twitter’s assistant general counsel, stated that the request to identify the leaker was being made under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which was enacted in 1998.

The release of source code online without permission is a serious issue that could lead to a range of security vulnerabilities, warns one expert. By exposing code in this manner, hackers and malicious actors could potentially exploit vulnerabilities and expose sensitive information. For this reason, it is essential that companies take a proactive approach to protect their source code from unauthorized access and distribution.

Twitter’s legal action highlights the importance of safeguarding intellectual property in the digital age. As more and more companies rely on technology and software to run their businesses, protecting valuable intellectual property becomes increasingly important. Twitter’s response to this incident demonstrates the seriousness with which companies take the issue of unauthorised source code release, and underscores the importance of protecting intellectual property and trade secrets in the digital age.