Ariana Grande files suit over years of hacks targeting collaborators
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Ariana Grande has filed a lawsuit against a group of unidentified hackers she accuses of running a yearslong campaign to break into the devices of people close to her, stealing unreleased music, private photographs and behind-the-scenes footage before selling it online. The complaint, lodged in California state court, alleges the hackers targeted photographers, producers and other collaborators with access to Grande's unreleased work, and as the hackers were not named in the filing, she is expected to seek court approval for subpoenas to internet service providers and online platforms in an effort to trace them.
The lawsuit lays out a series of alleged breaches over several years, beginning in 2019 with the theft of a photographer's Dropbox login credentials, followed in 2020 by the hacking of a producer's phone, which led to unreleased masters, demos and session footage being leaked. In 2023 alone, 45 unreleased songs were allegedly leaked online ahead of schedule, and in 2024 hackers reportedly ran a phishing scheme, impersonating a photographer via a fake Gmail account and domain, to trick a digital technician into handing over Grande's material. Leaked tracks named in the case include "Fantasize", "That Bitch is Mine" and "White Tee".
- Ariana Grande sues anonymous hackers over years of data theft
- Breaches from 2019–2024 hit collaborators' accounts and devices
- 45 unreleased songs leaked in 2023; case seeks to unmask hackers
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Ariana Grande has filed a lawsuit in a California state court against a group of unidentified hackers, accusing them of running a sustained campaign to steal her unreleased music. Rather than targeting Grande directly, the alleged attacks focused on the photographers, producers and other collaborators who had access to her material, using methods such as stolen login details and phishing scams.
The case matters because it highlights a wider problem in the music industry, where unreleased songs, masters and footage are increasingly valuable targets for hackers looking to leak or sell content before an official release. Because the identities of those responsible are unknown, the lawsuit is aimed at establishing a legal basis to trace them, including by seeking access to records held by internet and technology companies.
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Originally published by The Hollywood Reporter as “Ariana Grande Sues Over Yearslong Hacking Campaign Targeting Inner Circle”.