GTA 6 Informant Faces Legal Proceedings
Arion Kurtaj, the 18-year-old allegedly responsible for the significant GTA 6 leak in September 2022, recently faced a court hearing, as per a Reuters report. Kurtaj is on trial for various cybercrimes targeting Take-Two Interactive (GTA’s developer), fintech company Revolut, and ride-hailing service Uber.
Additionally, the court learned that Kurtaj attempted to extort BT Group, Britain’s leading broadband service, sought a $4 million ransom from UK’s mobile provider EE, and even infiltrated the City of London Police’s cloud server—a breach happening just after his arrest for the Take-Two incident.
The incident adversely impacted all targeted firms, but Take-Two Interactive bore the brunt. The leak, which included the rumored release date of the eagerly awaited GTA 6 and game screenshots, caused the company’s stocks to plummet. Eager gamers even used this leaked data to partially recreate the game’s map. This breach subsequently triggered an FBI probe.
Take-Two’s development team expressed deep dismay over the leaks, describing the episode as “extremely regrettable” and “deeply distressing”. The team was met with overwhelming support from both fans and fellow developers, and they didn’t hesitate to share the ramifications of this breach.
Although Kurtaj was a minor when these offenses were committed, he’s currently facing charges as an adult for 12 separate crimes, including three blackmail counts, two fraud allegations, and six others linked to the UK’s Computer Misuse Act. However, a psychological evaluation deemed Kurtaj mentally unfit for trial. Thus, the jury will decide on the validity of the allegations without determining guilt.
A 17-year-old co-conspirator, shielded from public identification due to their minor status, also faces charges alongside Kurtaj. Yet, this younger hacker wasn’t part of every breach. Both were key players in the hacker group Lapsus$.
Beyond the details allegedly leaked by Kurtaj and Lapsus$ affiliates, details about the forthcoming GTA installment remain scarce. Take-Two’s comments hint at a forthcoming launch, but fans might have to wait until at least 2024 or possibly 2025.
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