BTS flight info leak controversy: Airline employee and 2 accomplices prosecuted for illegally selling travel details

A important privacy violation though-provoking the illegal distribution of flight data for BTS and hundreds of high celebrities has led to formal payments against a few folk. On July 22, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Cyber Investigation Unit confirmed that three folk had been referred to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Workplace.

Amongst them is a foreign places airline employee, identified as Mr. A. They face payments for breaching the Facts and Communications Community Act, to boot to hundreds of legal suggestions connected to unauthorized access and data misuse.

Airline workers leaked Okay-pop stars’ flight data for income

Authorities negate that Mr. A, the utilization of his insider place of abode at a foreign places airline, unlawfully accessed confidential scuttle particulars of A-listing celebrities. They include globally identified Okay-pop acts. He reportedly handed the fragile data to brokers in place of abode of safeguarding it. In return, he purchased neat sums of money, totaling tens of thousands and thousands of KRW.

These brokers then created a community of illegal distribution. They unfold the data via encrypted messaging apps, beginning crew chats, and even via social media relate messages. The easy task used to be primarily offered to obsessive followers, in most cases in most cases known as “sasaengs.” These folk deem out coarse and invasive get shut to their celebrated stars.

The dangers of leaked flight data

The unauthorized unlock of celeb flight particulars has long been a traumatic insist within the Okay-pop industry. As soon as this data used to be leaked, sasaeng followers had been identified to guide seats on the identical flights. They strive to have interaction with idols mid-air, or crowd airport terminals to stalk them upon arrival.

In extra excessive instances, followers have tampered with in-flight services and products by altering idols’ meal preferences, switching their assigned seats, and even cancelling their bookings fully. These actions now not handiest disrupt artists’ tightly managed schedules but moreover compromise the safety and comfort of all americans on board.

HYBE cracks down on BTS flight leaks with task force

Recognizing the rising severity of the difficulty, BTS’ company, HYBE, took decisive slide in 2023 by launching a dedicated inner task force. The crew’s procedure used to be to title the muse motive within the reduction of these leaks and withhold those responsible accountable.

HYBE’s investigation led them to title several social media accounts actively engaged within the sale and promotion of leaked flight particulars. They compiled digital evidence, alongside with monetary transaction logs, chat histories, and user ID data. This data used to be then submitted straight to the law enforcement authorities. Their cooperation performed a truly crucial role in accelerating the investigation.

How the authorities traced the leak

As a result of detailed data offered by HYBE, investigators had been ready to attach the availability of the leak reduction to Mr. A. Surveillance of his digital teach and monetary data printed how the illicit operation used to be implemented. The police identified the roles of every and every co-conspirator and how the profits had been shatter up. They moreover uncovered which platforms had been old to disseminate the concept.

Mr. A used to be arrested in February of this 12 months, followed by two hundreds of folk in March. All three have now been formally referred for prosecution. It be a important step toward upright accountability within the ongoing fight against celeb privacy breaches.