The official YouTube channel of the Supreme Court has been hacked, with the channel now showing the name "Ripple" instead of "Supreme Court of India." In an alarming cyberattack, videos related to cryptocurrency have replaced the usual legal content from the country's highest judicial authority.
The hack has raised concerns about online security for government digital assets, and efforts are underway to restore the channel and its original content. Meanwhile, authorities are investigating the breach to identify the perpetrators behind this incident.
In a statement, the Supreme Court confirmed the issue and assured that efforts are underway to resolve the problem. Services on the YouTube channel, which provide access to various court proceedings and announcements, are expected to resume shortly. Authorities are working to secure the platform and ensure the situation is addressed swiftly.
What users found on SC's YouTube channel?
The Supreme Court of India's YouTube channel, which recently broadcasted the suo motu case concerning the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, has fallen victim to a cyberattack. Viewers seeking to watch recordings of critical hearings were shocked to find that all previous videos had been set to private and replaced by a live stream titled, "Brad Garlinghouse: Ripple Responds To The SEC’s $2 Billion Fine! XRP Price Prediction." This video, promoting cryptocurrency-related content, has raised serious concerns about the security of the judiciary's digital platforms.
Livestream of Supreme Court's proceedings
In a unanimous decision taken by the full court meeting headed by then CJI UU Lalit, the top court decided to live-stream proceedings of all constitution bench hearings following a path-breaking verdict on the matter in 2018. The Court acknowledged that live streaming of judicial proceedings is part of the fundamental right to access justice, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. The top court's livestreams include hearings on cases of national importance, such as disputes on the interpretation of the Constitution, issues affecting civil rights, electoral reforms, and other matters of public interest.
Popular channels targeted by hackers
In recent times, there has been a noticeable increase in the hacking of popular video channels by scammers. According to reports, Ripple had previously filed a lawsuit against YouTube for failing to prevent hackers from impersonating its CEO, Brad Garlinghouse. This growing trend of targeting well-known channels has raised concerns across various platforms.
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