Supreme Court of India’s YouTube Channel Hacked, Crypto Content Replaces Key Court Proceedings

The Supreme Court of India’s official YouTube channel experienced a serious security breach on Friday, September 20, when it was hacked and began showcasing unauthorized content related to cryptocurrency instead of its usual court proceedings. The channel, a vital platform for the judiciary, is generally used to live stream significant cases, particularly those heard by Constitution Benches and other matters of national interest. However, on this occasion, viewers were greeted by promotional content for XRP, a cryptocurrency developed by the US-based Ripple Labs, rather than legal hearings.

As a result of the hack, all previous videos on the channel were set to private, preventing access to archived court sessions. In their place, a live video titled “Brad Garlinghouse: Ripple Responds To The SEC’s $2 Billion Fine! XRP Price Prediction” was being streamed, promoting discussions about the ongoing legal issues surrounding Ripple Labs and its cryptocurrency.

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This breach occurred at a time when the Supreme Court was scheduled to hear a number of priority cases. Among these was a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) urging the court to establish a fixed time limit for the government to notify judicial appointments recommended by the SC Collegium.

Apex Court was preparing to hear a plea from the Muslim side in the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute, challenging an Allahabad High Court order that had dismissed their objections to the maintainability of cases filed by Hindu parties regarding the disputed site.

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In addition, the Supreme Court’s channel had recently been used to live stream a highly sensitive suo motu case concerning the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital. Given the importance of these cases and the public’s reliance on the platform to stay informed, the breach has raised concerns about the security of the judiciary’s digital assets and the potential impact on public trust.