The official YouTube channel of the Supreme Court of India was hacked on Friday and began displaying unauthorized content promoting a cryptocurrency developed by Ripple Labs, a US-based company. The breach resulted in a video titled “Brad Garlinghouse: Ripple Responds To The SEC’s $2 Billion Fine! XRP PRICE PREDICTION” being streamed live on the channel.
In response to the incident, the Supreme Court issued an official notice on its website stating: “This is to inform all concerned that the YouTube channel of the Supreme Court of India has been taken down. The services on the YouTube channel will be resumed shortly.”
The hacking of the Supreme Court’s YouTube channel is particularly concerning given its use for live-streaming significant court proceedings, including cases before constitution benches and matters of public interest.
The platform has played an increasingly vital role in offering transparency and access to the judicial process.
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Background on YouTube Live-Streaming by the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court started live-streaming its hearings after a landmark decision in 2018 that emphasized the need for public access to critical cases. In 2022, a full court meeting chaired by then-Chief Justice of India UU Lalit unanimously approved live-streaming all constitution bench hearings. This initiative allowed the public to follow high-profile cases in real-time, significantly increasing transparency in the judiciary.
As of now, efforts are underway to restore the channel and investigate the cyber attack.
