A group of hackers claim to have stolen internal Disney chat logs and leaked them online in protest of the entertainment giant's treatment of its human artists during the era of discrimination. AI-generated artThe hacked data, which was made public in full for the first time last week, totals more than one terabyte and includes discussions of unannounced projects, studio technology, and more.
The self-proclaimed hacktivist, who calls himself NullBulge, said his mission is to “protect the rights of artists and ensure fair compensation for their work.” The Wall Street Journal), which selects its targets based on a combination of social, economic and political factors, appears to have chosen Disney. “How we handle artist contracts, our approach to AI, [sic] “It's a pretty blatant disregard for consumers.”
Disney has been using AI to complement human-created artwork for years, and in 2023 launched a dedicated task force to explore cost-saving AI techniques that could be implemented across all areas of the entertainment conglomerate. This is despite widespread backlash against AI in the creative industries, where it has been supported by artists, animators, writers, actors and more.
NullBulge allegedly stole data from Disney's Slack archives, including all messages and files from about 10,000 channels. While it often involves role-playing as Goofy and Princess Elsa, the chat logs contain employee conversations, login credentials, and other details. Raw images and code that appear to be legitimate.
NullBulge claims it gained access to Disney's Slack through an “insider” who eventually “got scared” and kicked the group out. The company published the name of a Disney software development manager on its website, but it's unclear whether and to what extent he knowingly participated in the hack. NullBulge suggests that it was a Trojan horse virus hidden in a video game add-on that initially got onto the individual's computer.
In response to the hacking incident, a Disney spokesperson said: The Wall Street Journal The company said it was “investigating the matter.”
NullBulge has posted a manifesto of sorts on its website. Websiteand its logo, an anthropomorphic lion with a bulging crotch covered in blue slime. The company said the hack would only target people who commit one of its “sins.” That sin includes using AI-generated artwork, which it says “harms the creative industries and should be discouraged.” The other two “sins” are promoting cryptocurrency and any form of theft from artists or the platforms that support them, such as Patreon.
The group said it released the Disney data because if it really was a group and not a lone actor, there was no point in making secret demands or holding it for ransom. “If we said, 'Hey Disney, we have all your Slack data,' they would immediately try to lock us down and take us out,” the group said. “In a duel, it's better to shoot first.”
