Disney is facing a major security breach as a hacking group, Nullbulge, claims to have leaked internal messages from the media and theme park giant. The group says it is “protecting artists’ rights” by exposing Disney’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) and its handling of artist contracts.
According to Nullbulge, they gained access to thousands of communications from Disney employees and downloaded “every file possible”. The leaked information reportedly includes messages about upcoming projects, advertising campaigns, and interview candidates dating back to 2019.
Disney has confirmed that it is investigating the matter, but the authenticity of the leaked data has not been independently verified. The hackers claim to be Russian and say they got into Disney’s internal Slack messaging system through an insider.
The group targets those they believe are harming the creative industry by using AI-generated content, which they describe as “theft”. They released the data because they claim Disney did not meet their demands to stop using AI.
This incident highlights the growing concern among performers, artists, and creatives about the impact of generative AI on their livelihoods. Some have accused AI firms of breaching copyright by using their original work to train these tools.
Nullbulge describes itself as a hacktivist group working to protect artists’ rights and ensure fair compensation for their work in the digital age. Disney, with its vast range of businesses including film-making, streaming services, video games, and theme parks, is now at the center of this controversy.
