Twitter has revealed that some of its source code has been posted online and the Elon Musk-owned social media platform is taking legal action to identify the leaker.
According to a court filing filed Friday, Twitter requires GitHub, a code-sharing service, to identify who posted parts of its source code, the underlying software on which the service operates, to the platform.
GitHub removed the leaked code, but Twitter asked a US court to order the Microsoft-owned company to “identify the alleged infringer(s) who posted Twitter source code on systems operated by GitHub without Twitter’s authorization.” ”.
The code was posted online by a GitHub user who used the name FreeSpeechEnthusiast, in an apparent nod to Musk, referring to himself as a “free speech absolutist.”
Musk is obsessed with the threat that current and former staff will sabotage Twitter, according to the Platformer tech newsletter, after a takeover that led to the immediate firing of half of Twitter’s 7,500 employees and the reinstatement of formerly right-wing accounts. suspended, including Donald’s. Triumph. Twitter’s workforce now numbers fewer than 2,000 people.
In the court filing, Twitter’s deputy general counsel Julian Moore said the request to identify the leaker was made under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which took effect in 1998.
The source code leak could allow security vulnerabilities, according to an expert.
“Source code leaks like this can allow the identification of security vulnerabilities and can reveal sensitive business information,” said Steven Murdoch, professor of security engineering at University College London. “However, Twitter’s most valuable assets are its brand, its customer base, and the skills of its employees. I would be surprised if this leak has any significant long-term effect on the company.”
Twitter’s cybersecurity setup was heavily criticized by a whistleblower before Musk completed his acquisition. Former Twitter security chief Peiter “Mudge” Zatko, who was fired in January 2022, claimed he had discovered Twitter’s “extreme and flagrant deficiencies in all areas of its tenure,” including weak controls on employee access to user data and interference by Twitter. foreign governments.
Friday’s presentation came as Musk revealed to employees that the business he bought for $44bn (£36bn) in October is now worth less than half that, according to a memo seen by the New York Times. The memo said that Twitter, which has debts of $13 billion related to the financing of the acquisition, came within four months of running out of money. The platform, which makes most of its revenue from advertising, was hit by an advertiser boycott after the Musk takeover, amid concerns over issues including moderation standards and the impact of job cuts.
GitHub has been contacted for comment. A request for comment from Twitter’s press office received an automated response containing a poop emoji, a new policy Musk announced this month.
