Slashdot: Hackers Threaten To Submit Artists’ Data To AI Models If Art Site Doesn’t Pay Up

Source URL: https://it.slashdot.org/story/25/09/02/1936245/hackers-threaten-to-submit-artists-data-to-ai-models-if-art-site-doesnt-pay-up?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed
Source: Slashdot
Title: Hackers Threaten To Submit Artists’ Data To AI Models If Art Site Doesn’t Pay Up

Feedly Summary:

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: The ransomware attack by LunaLock presents a significant threat to data privacy and security, especially with its novel approach of threatening to submit stolen artwork to AI companies for inclusion in training datasets. This unprecedented method may have implications for compliance with regulations like GDPR.

Detailed Description: The recent attack by the ransomware group LunaLock targets the website Artists&Clients, which facilitates connections between independent artists and clients. The attack highlights several key points of concern for security and compliance professionals:

– **Nature of the Attack**:
– The attackers breached Artists&Clients, stealing and encrypting the website’s data.
– They threatened to publicly release sensitive data, including users’ personal information and source code if the ransom is not paid.

– **Ransom Demands**:
– LunaLock demanded a ransom of $50,000, which could be paid in Bitcoin or Monero.
– The ransom note included a countdown timer, creating urgency for the payment.

– **Unique Twist**:
– The threat to submit stolen artwork to AI companies for training datasets introduces a new element to ransomware strategies. This ties into the ongoing discussions about copyright, ownership, and ethical AI training practices, particularly in how datasets are compiled.

– **Compliance Implications**:
– The ransom note explicitly mentioned potential GDPR violations, indicating that failing to protect user data could lead to substantial fines and legal repercussions for site owners.
– This situation presents a dual threat: loss of data integrity and possible legal consequences under severe data protection regulations.

– **Emerging Trends**:
– This attack could set a precedent for how ransomware groups utilize AI and the datasets they produce, possibly sparking regulatory actions and discussions within the AI community surrounding the ethical use of data from compromised sources.

This incident serves as a critical reminder for organizations to bolster their security measures, consider the implications of AI in data management, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations to mitigate the risks associated with such novel ransomware strategies.