TOKYO – A 25-year-old man has been served a fresh arrest warrant for allegedly creating a computer virus using generative artificial intelligence (AI), the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)'s cybercrime control division announced on May 28, in what is believed to be the first such case in Japan.
Ryuki Hayashi, an unemployed resident of the Kanagawa Prefecture city of Kawasaki, was served the warrant on suspicion of making electronic or magnetic records containing unauthorized commands.
Hayashi is accused of creating a virus similar to ransomware, which destroys computer data and demands ransom in cryptocurrency, using his home computer and smartphone on March 31, 2023. He has reportedly admitted to the allegations, telling police, “I thought I could do anything by asking AI. I wanted to make easy money.”
That’s true, I agree with this sentiment. But I’m a bit confused when trying to apply the same logic to credit bureaus and other companies which get hacked and expose our personal information without facing any real consequences. In those situations I feel that those companies should be held liable for the breaches.