Twitter launches much-awaited developer software after hack delay

Hackers targeted about 130 accounts during cyber attack

Twitter rolled out its new long-awaited Application Programming Interface (API) software on Wednesday; nearly a month after the social media company delayed the platform’s launch following the hack of several high-profile accounts.

The API platform provides broad access to public Twitter data that users have chosen to share, according to the microblogging site.

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The launch was postponed due to an unrelated hack that targeted about 130 accounts during the cyber attack, an incident in which profiles of many prominent personalities and organisations were compromised.

Hackers had accessed Twitter’s internal systems to hijack some of the platform’s top voices including US presidential candidate Joe Biden, reality TV star Kim Kardashian, former US President Barack Obama, and billionaire Elon Musk and used them to solicit digital currency.

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Hackers were able to gain control of a "small subset" of the targeted accounts and send tweets from them.

Twitter’s role as a critical communications platform for political candidates and public officials, including President Donald Trump, has led to fears that hackers could wreak havoc with the November 3 presidential election or otherwise compromise national security.