By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
Disney has confirmed it is investigating an apparent leak of internal messages by a hacking group, Nullbulge, which claims to be "protecting artists' rights." The group stated it had accessed thousands of communications from Disney employees and downloaded "every file possible." The sensitivity of the leaked information, reportedly including messages about upcoming projects, remains unclear.
"Disney is investigating this matter,” a company spokesperson told us via email.
Nullbulge, according to its website, targets entities it believes are harming the creative industry by using AI generated content, which it calls "theft." We reached out to the hackers, who claim to be in Russia and say they infiltrated Disney's internal Slack messaging system through an insider. However, the hackers did not provide a sample of the stolen data to verify its authenticity.
The hackers accused Disney of mishandling artist contracts, misusing AI, and disregarding consumers. They released the data, anticipating Disney would not cease using AI. It is unusual for hackers to present themselves as "Russian hacktivists" with an ethical agenda, as most cybercriminals, including those in Russia, typically seek financial gain through extortion.
The leak, initially reported in the gaming press and later by the Wall Street Journal, allegedly includes material related to advertising campaigns and interview candidates, some dating back to 2019. There is growing concern among performers, artists, and other creatives that the rapid spread of generative AI could undermine their livelihoods and harm the creative environment. Generative AI, trained on vast amounts of existing material, can produce new works that are often indistinguishable from human created content. Some artists and authors have claimed AI firms violated copyright by using their original work to train AI tools.
Nullbulge describes itself as a "hacktivist group protecting artists' rights and ensuring fair compensation for their work." Their website states, "Our hacks are not those of malice, but to punish those caught stealing. We will work tirelessly to develop and implement solutions that protect the rights and livelihoods of artists in the digital age."
Disney's extensive business portfolio includes film making, streaming services like Disney+ and Hulu, video games, and globally located theme parks. It also owns the highly successful Marvel and Star Wars franchises.
