TOKYO - A 15-year-old high school student has been arrested on suspicion of launching a cyberattack against the operator of an anime streaming service last year that caused the cancellation of more than 40,000 subscription accounts.
Arrested on Saturday, the male high school student from Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo allegedly used a program he created with the assistance of the generative AI chatbot ChatGPT to disrupt the Bandai Channel streaming service operated by Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc.
The student allegedly sent false information to the company's servers between around 5 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. on Nov. 4, causing the unauthorized cancellation of 46,812 subscription accounts, according to police.
The attack partially disrupted the company's operations on Nov. 6, until it resumed full service in December after completing repairs to its systems. The company consulted police about the incident.
The police suspect the student discovered a vulnerability in the company's system and exploited it to fraudulently obtain account information.
The student admitted to the allegations, saying, "I started using computers when I was in the fourth grade and taught myself everything I know. I happened to be able to access the information and had nothing against the company."
The police had previously arrested the student on June 13 on suspicion of unauthorized access, alleging that he logged into the channel using the account information of 15 individuals that investigators believe he obtained fraudulently. His case was then put on hold.
