A 15-year-old high school student in Japan has been arrested for allegedly carrying out a cyberattack that disrupted a popular anime streaming platform after using generative artificial intelligence to help develop software used in the incident, according to local media reports.
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Authorities allege that the teenager created a program with assistance from ChatGPT and used it to exploit security vulnerabilities in Bandai Namco Filmworks’s streaming service, Bandai Channel. The attack reportedly disrupted the platform’s operations and resulted in the deletion of more than 46,000 user accounts, affecting thousands of subscribers.
Police said the alleged offence took place in November 2025 and is being investigated under laws related to obstructing business operations through unauthorized digital activity. Investigators believe the student took advantage of weaknesses in the platform’s security system, forcing the company to temporarily suspend parts of its online service while restoring affected systems.
During questioning, the student reportedly said he had been interested in computers since the fourth grade and had written the source code himself. However, because the program required significant processing and refinement, he used ChatGPT to help complete portions of the code in different programming languages. Authorities have not alleged that the AI tool itself carried out the attack but claim it was used as a coding assistant during development.
Police also said the suspect told investigators that he had no personal grievance against Bandai Namco Filmworks. Instead, he allegedly targeted the platform because it contained a large number of user accounts that he believed could be accessed.
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The case has renewed discussions in Japan about cybersecurity, responsible use of artificial intelligence and the importance of strengthening digital security systems. Experts note that AI tools can assist with legitimate programming and education but emphasize that individuals remain responsible for how such technologies are used. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue examining the full extent of the incident.