In Paris two 18-year old French citizens have found themselves behind bars after being arrested and charged for their roles in a series of hacks involving Vevo’s YouTube accounts last month.
According to the Paris Prosecutor’s Office, the two suspects identified as Nassim B. and Gabriel K.A.B., better known by online pseudonyms ”Prosox” and “Kuroi’ish” are being held responsible for the attacks that left behind pro-Palestine messages and other silly banter on videos that included Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito”—currently the most viewed video on YouTube with over 5 billion views—Drake’s “God Plan,” and a number of other videos from artists that include Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Shakira, Chris Brown, and Selena Gomez. The duo replaced the videos’ thumbnail images and altered titles and descriptions.
Both the Paris Prosecutor’s Office and The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York—the location of Vevo’s headquarters—worked to bring in charges that include five criminal counts against Gabriel K.A.B. and six counts against Nassim B. These include “fraudulently modifying data containing an automated data processing system.”
Prior to being caught, Prosox took to his Twitter account, sharing that the hacks were “just for fun” and warned YouTube to recruit better developers, claiming that the hack was accomplished with a simple script. “Dont judge me i love youtube,” he wrote.
These arrests arrive in conjunction with Vevo’s recent announcement to slowly get rid of its front-facing website and apps to focus solely on its YouTube accounts.
“We will phase out elements of our owned and operated platforms,” the company said in a blog post Thursday. “Going forward, Vevo will remain focused on engaging the biggest audiences and pursuing growth opportunities.”