TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 15-year-old high school student accused of using the generative AI tool ChatGPT to launch a cyberattack against the popular anime streaming service Bandai Channel, forcing tens of thousands of users to be unsubscribed, reports TBS News (July 6).
The boy, a resident of Tokorozawa City in Saitama Prefecture, was arrested on suspicion of fraudulent obstruction of business, investigative sources revealed.
According to police, the cyberattack took place in November 2025 while the suspect was still in his third year of junior high school. The teen allegedly deployed a custom-made program he built using ChatGPT to illegally access the servers of Bandai Channel.
The malicious script hijacked user accounts and systematically triggered withdrawal processes, forcing 46,812 members to be unsubscribed. The ensuing chaos forced the platform’s operator, Bandai Namco Filmworks, to temporarily suspend all services, thereby obstructing their business.
The boy, who reportedly began teaching himself computer programming in the fourth grade, has admitted to the allegations.
“I had no grudge against the victimized company,” he told investigators.
During the breach, the teen also obtained personal member information, including email addresses and user nicknames. However, police have not confirmed any instances of the stolen data being misused or distributed online.
Following the attack in November, Bandai Namco Filmworks halted all operations after noticing users were being unintentionally unsubscribed and fearing a potential data leak. Operations eventually resumed in December.
“We have implemented measures to improve system safety and prevent recurrence. At this time, we have not confirmed any secondary damage or facts indicating that members’ personal information has been published on the internet,” the company said.
In a statement addressing the arrest, Bandai Namco Filmworks added, “We will strive to further strengthen our safety management systems, including information security, to ensure our members can use our services with peace of mind.”
