Ariana Grande Wins Court Order to Unmask Hackers
A judge has granted Ariana Grande's request to subpoena online platforms to identify individuals who have leaked her unreleased content, including 45 stolen songs in 2023 alone
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Judge Mark H. Epstein granted the expedited discovery request.
Story published. A judge has granted Ariana Grande's request to subpoena online platforms to identify individuals who have leaked her unreleased content, including 45 stolen songs in 2023 alone
Ariana Grande has been granted a court order to subpoena online platforms to identify individuals who have leaked her unreleased content, including music, photos, and video footage. The alleged hacking and leaking of her content dates back to at least 2019, with 45 unreleased songs stolen and leaked in 2023 alone.
Ariana Grande's team has spent years trying to identify the people behind the alleged cyber scheme, but they have hidden behind anonymous accounts and peer-to-peer payment platforms. However, Grande's team has now identified third parties that may have account, subscriber, and login data that could lead to the people responsible for the hacking and leaking.
The court order allows Grande to subpoena various online platforms, including social media sites and third-party payment services, to obtain the identities of the individuals who have leaked her unreleased content. Grande's unreleased content has been posted to platforms including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, and Discord, and payments for the stolen material have been facilitated by services like PayPal and CashApp.
Grande initiated a lawsuit last month with the goal of unmasking anonymous individuals who have violated the 'sacred relationship' between her and her fans. The lawsuit claims that cybercriminals have repeatedly hacked into the accounts of her photographers and producers and then sold the stolen material to others, who have in turn posted it on social media sites for the public to consume.
## Why it matters The court order is a significant step forward for Grande in her efforts to protect her intellectual property and prevent further leaks of her unreleased content. The ongoing hacking and leaking of her content have caused significant harm to her career and relationships with her fans. By unmasking the individuals responsible, Grande hopes to put an end to the cyber scheme and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The case highlights the importance of online platforms and payment services in facilitating the theft and distribution of stolen content. While Grande has not accused any of these companies of wrongdoing, she is seeking their help in identifying the individuals responsible for the hacking and leaking. The outcome of the case will be closely watched by the music industry and could have implications for the way online platforms and payment services handle cases of intellectual property theft.
