Teen Arrested for Cyberattack on Bandai Channel, Cancelling 46,812 Accounts

A 15-year-old student was arrested for exploiting a vulnerability in Bandai Channel's system, leading to the unauthorized cancellation of 46,812 subscription accounts on November 4, 2025. The student allegedly used ChatGPT to assist in creating a program that sent false information to the company's servers. The attack disrupted operations, prompting Bandai Namco Filmworks to suspend the service on November 6, 2025, and resume it on December 19, 2025, after implementing safety improvements. The incident raised concerns about weak account-management controls, with the potential exposure of personal data for up to 1.366 million users. The student admitted to the allegations, claiming no malice against the company. The police are investigating the exact vulnerability exploited during the attack.

Key Points: • A 15-year-old exploited a vulnerability, canceling over 46,000 accounts on Bandai Channel. • The attack utilized ChatGPT to automate the process of sending false information to servers. • Bandai Namco Filmworks suspended the service for investigation and implemented safety improvements.