The internal 'Slack' messenger conversations among Walt Disney employees were leaked online, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 15th (local time).
According to the report, the leaked content online includes discussions about advertising campaigns, software development, website maintenance, interview candidates, as well as conversations about employees' dog photos. WSJ stated that "(the leaked) data dates back at least to 2019." A Disney spokesperson explained, "We are investigating this issue."
Previously, the hacking group Nullriver announced through a blog post that they had infiltrated Disney's internal systems and leaked data from thousands of Slack channels. They claim the leaked data amounts to approximately 1.2TB and includes messages from internal developers as well as files and code currently in progress.
Nullriver describes themselves as a hacker activist group advocating for artists' rights and operating based on social and economic values. They explained that this hacking was carried out as part of criticism against Disney for not properly compensating artists such as writers and infringing on their rights.
Regarding this, WSJ evaluated that it reflects conflicts emerging in the entertainment industry as artificial intelligence (AI) technology advances rapidly. Security researchers have confirmed that Nullriver previously accessed Disney's internal information by hiding malicious software inside free add-ons for video games and AI-based image generation software, a so-called 'Trojan horse' tactic.
WSJ noted, "If a company's internal messages, code, and documents are leaked, it can cause significant disruption to the company," referencing the 2014 incident when North Korean hackers threw Sony Pictures into chaos.
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