On Friday, the official YouTube channel of the Supreme Court of India was hacked, sparking concern among viewers and legal experts alike. This channel is known for live streaming significant hearings on important constitutional matters, but it suddenly shifted to promoting cryptocurrency videos from Ripple Labs, a company facing legal challenges from the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The hack came to light with the appearance of a blank video titled "Brad Garlinghouse: Ripple Responds To The SEC's $2 Billion Fine! XRP PRICE PREDICTION." Brad Garlinghouse is the CEO of Ripple Labs, which has been involved in a high-profile lawsuit regarding the legality of its cryptocurrency, XRP.
To add to the confusion, hackers also made previous Supreme Court hearing videos private, raising alarms about the channel's security and reliability. [BREAKING] Supreme Court YouTube channel hacked #SupremeCourt #SupremeCourtOfIndia Read more: https://t.co/PoCtUSSYUR pic.
twitter.com/jiBEXZmyaL — Bar and Bench (@barandbench) September 20, 2024 This incident is particularly concerning given that the Supreme Court had several crucial cases scheduled for that day. One case involved a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) calling for a specific timeframe for the Central Government to act on judicial appointments recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium.
Another significant case was SpiceJet's appeal against a Delhi High Court decision that grounded three of its aircraft engines due to payment defaults. Additionally, the Court was set to address a plea from the Muslim side challenging an Allahabad High Court ruling related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute. 🚨🇮🇳 Major Breaking News: The official youtube channel of supreme court of India has been hacked by unknown persons who posted ripple updates.
All old videos of supreme court proceedings unavailable now. Youtube is now trying to restore the original account. pic.
twitter.com/B67h8KcLBQ — The Crypto Times (@CryptoTimes_io) September 20, 2024 This hacking incident highlights the vulnerabilities that digital platforms face, even those linked to the highest levels of the judiciary. The Supreme Court has been a leader in using technology to enhance transparency, having begun live streaming all Constitution Bench hearings after a landmark decision in 2018.
This move, initiated by then Chief Justice UU Lalit, aimed to make judicial proceedings more accessible to the public. 🚨🇮🇳 Major Breaking News: The official youtube channel of supreme court of India has been hacked by unknown persons who posted ripple updates. All old videos of supreme court proceedings unavailable now.
Youtube is now trying to restore the original account. pic.twitter.
com/B67h8KcLBQ — The Crypto Times (@CryptoTimes_io) September 20, 2024 As authorities scramble to restore the channel and investigate the breach, concerns about cybersecurity and the potential for manipulation of sensitive legal content are growing. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in the digital age, where even esteemed institutions are not immune to cyber threats. BREAKING: Official YouTube channel of the Supreme Court of India has been HACKED.
The channel has over 2 lakh subscribers and was used for live streaming of constitution bench cases and cases of larger public interest. Most recently, the channel had streamed the Kolkata doctor's..
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com/AiRJErA0lt — Law Today (@LawTodayLive) September 20, 2024 The Supreme Court’s dedication to transparency is essential for maintaining public trust, but events like this can undermine those efforts. Moving forward, it will be crucial for the court and similar institutions to strengthen their cybersecurity measures. Ensuring the public can safely engage with the judicial process is vital, and protecting these platforms from cybercriminals is more important than ever.
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