Hacker group says it leaked Disney data over the company’s ‘approach to AI’

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As a long-time movie industry observer and former union representative, I find the recent hack of Walt Disney Company’s internal communications deeply concerning. The alleged leak of thousands of messages, unreleased projects, and other sensitive information by the hacktivist group NullBulge raises serious questions about data security and privacy in an industry that is increasingly reliant on technology.

A band of hackers claimed they recently released confidential conversations from Walt Disney Company, revealing concerns about artist agreements, their strategy on AI technology, and apparent indifference towards consumers.

I, being a part of the self-declared hacktivist collective called NullBulge, have communicated with various news outlets, including CNN, to share that we allegedly gained unauthorized access to Disney’s internal messaging systems and released approximately 1.2 terabytes of data.

NullBulge did not immediately respond Tuesday to The Times’ request for comment.

A Disney representative told The Times that they were looking into this situation.

According to the Wall Street Journal’s report, the leaked information encompassed computer programming, details on upcoming initiatives, discussions regarding marketing strategies, studio equipment, and prospective employees.

NullBulge admitted to CNN that they were operating from Russia and managed to infiltrate Disney’s system through an individual with access to Slack who also had saved cookies. Slack is a commonly utilized messaging tool among businesses for private communications.

NullBulge is described as an organization that advocates for artists’ rights and guarantees reasonable remuneration for their creative output.

There has been increasing scrutiny towards businesses like Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Netflix recently due to growing worries about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on employment in the entertainment industry.

Hollywood labor unions, including those for actors, writers, and production crews, have been advocating for restrictions on the usage of artificial intelligence in recent times. This technology, which has rapidly advanced, became a significant point of contention between the unions and film studios during last year’s writers’ and actors’ strikes.

California legislators are proposing laws to control the use of artificial intelligence, while tech firms are advocating for careful consideration to avoid excessive regulation.

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2024-07-18 21:36