Twitter has taken down internal source code and tools that were leaked on GitHub for several months. The leaked code exposed proprietary source code and internal tools, which could pose a security risk to Twitter. The company has issued a DMCA infringement notice to GitHub, which complied and removed the infringing content. Now, Twitter is using a subpoena to search for those who leaked and downloaded its code.
Twitter’s DMCA notice to GitHub regarding internal source code leak
Twitter issued a DMCA notice to GitHub requesting information about the access history for the leak. It is likely to determine who downloaded or copied the code. The notice reads, “Please preserve and provide copies of upload/download/access history. And any contact info, IP addresses, or other session info related to same), and any associated logs related to this repo or any forks thereof, before removing all the infringing content from Github.”
The leaker’s GitHub account
The leaker’s GitHub account is still active but no longer has any public repositories. However, its past activity shows the user’s first contribution. It includes (e.g., committing to a repo or opening an issue/discussion) was on January 3.
Twitter’s legal action on internal source code leak
Twitter is now attempting to use a subpoena to force GitHub to provide identifying information. It is regarding the FreeSpeechEnthusiasm user and anyone who accessed and distributed the leaked Twitter source code. This information would be used for further legal action.
Twitter’s response to the leaked code
It is unknown how many people accessed or downloaded Twitter’s leaked source code, but the leaker had few followers. However, the leak could have repercussions for Twitter as the code may be scrutinized to find potentially exploitable vulnerabilities.
Twitter’s future plans
Twitter’s owner and CEO, Elon Musk, announced that the company would open source the platform’s algorithm soon, although a timeline has yet to be defined. On March 31, though, Twitter is expected to open source the code used for recommending tweets, according to a message on the platform from Musk.
Recap
Twitter has taken action to protect its proprietary source code and internal tools by issuing a DMCA notice to GitHub and using a subpoena to search for those who leaked and downloaded its code. While the impact of the leak is unclear, Twitter is taking steps to prevent any potential security risks. Additionally, the company’s plans to open source its algorithm and tweet recommendation code suggest a commitment to transparency and collaboration with the development community.
