On Friday, September 20, 2024, a YouTube channel using the Indian Supreme Court’s name was hacked, redirecting users to a page that promoted a cryptocurrency developed by Ripple Labs, a U.S.-based company.
The hacked channel featured a blank video titled “Brad Garlinghouse: Ripple Responds To The SEC’s $2 Billion Fine! XRP PRICE PREDICTION,” accessible at the UR www.youtube.com/@supremecourtofindia5950.
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As of Friday, XRP ranked as the seventh largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, according to CoinMarketCap. This cryptocurrency, which aims to streamline cross-border transactions and reduce fees, has been embroiled in a multi-year legal battle in the U.S. regarding its classification as unregistered securities versus a commodity.
Cryptocurrency supporters often hack notable accounts to promote their assets, drive up prices, or increase awareness. Many of the media or links shared through these hacks are fraudulent, and users are advised to avoid engaging with them. This isn’t the first instance of Ripple or XRP supporters hacking a prominent account; a few years ago, the Indian crypto exchange CoinDCX faced a similar situation.
The Indian Supreme Court has been using YouTube to livestream hearings of constitution bench cases and matters of public interest. In a recent full court meeting led by then Chief Justice U.U. Lalit, the court decided to continue live-streaming these proceedings, following a significant verdict on the matter in 2018. The hacked YouTube channel has since been taken down.
