Teen Used AI to Hack Anime Streaming Service

A 15-year-old Japanese student has been apprehended for allegedly utilizing ChatGPT in a cyberattack targeting the Bandai Channel streaming service. This incident, which occurred in November 2025, resulted in the fraudulent cancellation of 46,812 user accounts and significantly disrupted the company's operations.

Investigators suspect the teenager exploited a vulnerability within the platform. He reportedly used ChatGPT to help write the source code for a program designed to automate unauthorized account access and mass deregistration. The attack forced Bandai Namco Filmworks to suspend parts of its service, with full operations only resuming in December 2025 after system repairs.

The suspect, who was a junior high school student at the time, allegedly admitted to the act, stating he targeted the platform due to the large number of accessible accounts rather than any personal grievance. He is also facing charges for previous computer-related offenses.

Bandai Namco Filmworks has notified affected customers and is offering refunds for subscription fees incurred during the outage. The company assured that there is no evidence of leaked data being misused and committed to enhancing system security.