A group of activist hackers, known as Nullbulge, has claimed responsibility for leaking a massive 1.1 terabytes of internal data from Disney’s messaging channels. The leaked data includes information about unreleased projects, raw images, computer codes, and even some login credentials.
How Did They Do It?
According to Nullbulge, they gained access to Disney’s Slack channels through a person with Slack access who had cookies. The group claims that they were able to walk right back in after the person tried to kick them out once.
What Does the Leaked Data Contain?
The leaked data is massive, with 1.1 terabytes of information. It includes:
- Information about unreleased projects
- Raw images
- Computer codes
- Login credentials
Why Did Nullbulge Target Disney?
Nullbulge claims that they targeted Disney because of its handling of artist contracts, its approach to artificial intelligence, and its disregard for consumers. The group wants to protect artists’ rights and compensation for their work, especially in the age of artificial intelligence.
The Concerns About Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence was a major sticking point in negotiations during the Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America strikes. Writers are concerned that AI tools like ChatGPT can write scripts instead of them, while actors fear that computer-generated imagery (CGI) can replace them entirely.
Why Did Nullbulge Leak the Data?
Nullbulge claims that they leaked the data because making demands of Disney would be futile. They believe that if they had approached Disney with their demands, the company would have locked down and tried to take them out.
A Similar Incident: The Sony Pictures Hack
This incident is reminiscent of the 2014 megahack at Sony Pictures, which was linked to North Korea. That hack led to an international crisis, exposing emails from company executives, celebrity aliases, social security numbers, and entire movie scripts.
Insights and Opinions
This incident highlights the importance of cybersecurity in the entertainment industry. With the increasing use of artificial intelligence and other technologies, companies like Disney need to ensure that they are protecting their data and their artists’ rights.
It’s also interesting to note that Nullbulge’s motivations seem to be driven by a desire to protect artists’ rights, rather than financial gain. This raises questions about the role of hacktivist groups in promoting social change and holding companies accountable.
What’s Next?
Disney has stated that it is investigating the matter, but it remains to be seen what actions the company will take to prevent similar incidents in the future. One thing is certain: this incident will have far-reaching implications for the entertainment industry and beyond.