GTA 6 Hacker Receives ‘Indefinite Hospital Order’ for Leaked Clips

Arion Kurtaj, responsible for the Grand Theft Auto 6 clip leak, faces an indefinite hospital order due to ongoing public risk.

Arion Kurtaj, the hacker behind the leak of Grand Theft Auto 6 clips, has been handed an indefinite hospital order. After the uproar caused by the leak, the judge deems Kurtaj a persistent threat, leading to a firm ruling.

The GTA 6 trailer leak sparked controversy, exposing substantial details about Rockstar’s highly-awaited action-adventure game set in Leonida. This installment introduces Lucia, the franchise’s first female lead character. However, the trailer’s premature release stemmed from a cyber-attack by Arion Kurtaj, associated with the hacker group Lapsus$.

As reported by BBC,

Arion Kurtaj, an 18-year-old linked to Lapsus$, received an indefinite hospital order for the GTA 6 leak. The judge highlighted his ongoing risk to the public, citing his cybersecurity skills and expressed intention to pursue cybercrime further. Psychiatry assessments revealed Kurtaj’s continued motivation to engage in unlawful cyber activities.

Earlier in July, psychiatrists had deemed Kurtaj unfit for trial due to autism. However, he was not exempt from repercussions, receiving a sentence that confines him to a secure hospital until deemed safe by medical professionals. Kurtaj’s cyber intrusions included breaching Rockstar Games’ database and stealing 90 GTA 6 clips using an Amazon Fire Stick while on bail. He even threatened to release source code unless contacted by Rockstar within 24 hours.

Lapsus$ had previously targeted tech giants like Uber, Nvidia, and Rockstar Games. The hack reportedly cost Rockstar $5 million in recovery efforts. Nonetheless, Kurtaj’s defense argued that the leak did not impact the company, given the immense success of the Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer, which broke YouTube viewing records.

Amidst Kurtaj’s sentencing, another Lapsus$ member, a 17-year-old hacker, was found guilty of data theft and a demand for a $4 million ransom from major corporations. It remains uncertain if additional individuals were involved in the GTA 6 hack. Despite mental health considerations, Kurtaj’s sentence aims to prevent future cyber-attacks of a similar nature.