Activist Hackers Leak Disney’s Internal Slack Messages Over AI Concerns

An activist hacking group, Nullbulge, has claimed responsibility for leaking around 1.2 terabytes of Disney’s internal Slack messages, including details on unreleased projects, raw images, computer codes, and some logins. The breach, allegedly facilitated by a person with Slack access, raises significant concerns over cybersecurity and AI’s impact on artists.

The group, said to be based in Russia, contacted CNN via email on Monday, explaining that they gained access through a man with Slack credentials and browser cookies. Despite the user’s attempt to eject them, they managed to regain access.

Disney, in a statement on Monday, confirmed that it is investigating the incident. The leaked data spans across Disney’s vast range of divisions, from ESPN and Hulu to Disney+ and ABC News.

Nullbulge has stated their motive as a protest against Disney’s handling of artist contracts, its approach to artificial intelligence, and its treatment of consumers. The group aims to highlight concerns over AI’s potential to replace human creativity and labor.

The group had been hinting at this major release for weeks on social media. In June, they posted what appeared to be visitor, booking, and revenue data from Disneyland Paris.

AI’s role in the entertainment industry has been a contentious issue, particularly during the Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America strikes. Writers fear that AI could write scripts, while actors worry about CGI replacing them.

Nullbulge decided to leak the data instead of making demands, believing that any attempt to negotiate with Disney would be futile. “If we said ‘Hello Disney, we have all your Slack data,’ they would instantly lock down and try to take us out. In a duel, you better fire first,” they stated.

This incident is reminiscent of the 2014 Sony Pictures hack linked to North Korea, which exposed executive emails, celebrity aliases, social security numbers, and entire movie scripts, leading to an international crisis. Disney now faces a challenging situation as it navigates the repercussions of this substantial data breach.