Japan Arrests 15-Year-Old for Allegedly Using ChatGPT in Massive Anime Platform Cyberattack
A 15-year-old student in Japan has been arrested for allegedly using ChatGPT to assist in creating a computer programme that was used in a cyberattack on an anime streaming platform.
A 15-year-old student in Japan has been arrested for allegedly using ChatGPT to assist in creating a computer program that was used in a cyberattack on an anime streaming platform. The incident caused 46,812 user subscriptions to be cancelled and disrupted the company’s services for several weeks. The case has attracted international attention and raised fears of abuse of artificial intelligence in cybercrime.
How the Attack Was Conducted
The teen attacked Bandai Channel, an anime streaming service operated by Bandai Namco Filmworks, in November 2025, according to Japanese investigators. He discovered a security vulnerability in the platform and used ChatGPT to assist in writing software that automated unauthorized access to user accounts, police say. The malicious program reportedly sent fake commands to the company’s servers, cancelling thousands of memberships.
The company was disrupted for weeks.
The company said it was forced to shut down parts of its online service as technical teams worked to fix the problem. The investigators say the teenager kept changing his IP address even after his access was blocked. The disruption lasted more than a month before services were restored, according to reports.
Teenager admits to writing a program.
The student reportedly confessed to creating the software when questioned, adding that he had been teaching himself programming from a very young age. He told investigators he had no personal beef with the company and was just taking advantage of a hole he found, according to reports. Authorities are looking into whether customer data was stolen or misused. No evidence of leaked user information at this time. said Bandai Namco Filmworks.
AI and Cybersecurity: An Increasing Controversy
The incident has sparked renewed debate about the role of generative AI tools in cybersecurity. ChatGPT and other AI platforms are designed to assist people with coding and productivity, but experts warn they could be misused by bad actors. With these technologies becoming more commonplace, the case highlights the need to beef up cybersecurity and use AI responsibly.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
