Japanese Teen Arrested After Alleged Cyberattack Disrupted Major Anime Streaming Service

TOKYO, Japan — Japanese authorities have arrested a 15-year-old high school student accused of carrying out a sophisticated cyberattack that disrupted a major anime streaming platform, fraudulently canceled more than 46,000 customer subscriptions, and allegedly used ChatGPT to help develop software that automated the attacks.

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, the teenager is suspected of exploiting a vulnerability in the servers of Bandai Channel, a subscription-based anime streaming service, after identifying a weakness through an analysis of the platform’s network traffic.

Investigators allege the attacks occurred in November 2025 and caused widespread disruption for the streaming service and its subscribers.

Police allege the student developed a malicious program that automatically transmitted fraudulent data to the company’s servers, allowing unauthorized cancellation requests to be carried out on a large scale. Authorities stated that more than 46,000 user subscriptions were fraudulently canceled before the attacks were stopped.

The disruption forced Bandai Channel to suspend portions of its service for more than a month while engineers investigated the incident, repaired affected systems, strengthened security measures, and issued refunds to impacted subscribers.

One of the most significant aspects of the investigation involves the alleged use of ChatGPT during the development of the malicious software.

According to Japanese investigators, the teenager used ChatGPT as a programming aid while creating the code used to automate the attacks. Authorities have not alleged that the artificial intelligence system conducted the cyberattack itself. Instead, investigators claim the suspect used the AI tool to assist in writing or refining software that was later used during the unauthorized intrusion.

The distinction is significant because the alleged criminal conduct rests entirely with the individual accused of carrying out the attack. Artificial intelligence tools generate content in response to user prompts but do not independently select targets, launch cyberattacks, or make criminal decisions. The misuse of AI-assisted coding tools by individuals has become an increasing concern for cybersecurity professionals and law enforcement agencies worldwide.

Investigators said the teenager first came to the attention of authorities in June 2026, when he was arrested on suspicion of accessing the platform through another user’s account without authorization. As the investigation expanded, digital evidence allegedly linked him to the broader attack against Bandai Channel.

According to police, the teenager allegedly admitted his involvement during questioning and stated that he held no personal grudge against the company. Investigators said he told authorities he had taught himself computer programming and enjoyed analyzing network communications and computer systems.

Police also allege that after Bandai Channel detected suspicious activity and blocked his access, the suspect continued carrying out unauthorized account cancellations by repeatedly changing his IP address in an effort to avoid detection. Investigators eventually identified him after analyzing communication records following the company’s report to law enforcement.

The case reflects a growing trend in cybersecurity in which attackers increasingly automate malicious activity after identifying exploitable weaknesses in online systems. Automated tools can dramatically increase the speed and scale of attacks, allowing a single individual to affect thousands of user accounts in a relatively short period of time.

The investigation also underscores a broader challenge facing the technology industry. Artificial intelligence has become an increasingly valuable resource for software developers, researchers, and cybersecurity professionals, accelerating legitimate programming tasks and helping identify security vulnerabilities. Those same capabilities can also be misused by criminals seeking to automate malicious code or streamline cyberattacks. As AI-assisted programming tools become more widely available, organizations are placing greater emphasis on secure software development, continuous vulnerability testing, real-time network monitoring, and rapid security patching to reduce the risk of exploitation.

Bandai Channel is owned by one of Japan’s largest entertainment companies, which has previously experienced cybersecurity incidents involving unauthorized access to corporate systems. Those incidents, combined with the latest attack, highlight the continuing pressure facing organizations that manage large online platforms and millions of customer accounts.

Authorities have not released additional information regarding future court proceedings because the suspect is a juvenile under Japanese law.

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