Chinese Open-Source AI Models, Including DeepSeek, Accused of Being Linked to Cyber Attacks in Japan

Overview

Japan has recently suffered an unprecedented wave of simultaneous, widespread cyberattacks affecting multiple critical sectors, including business, education, and finance. According to media reports, this series of malicious incidents, encompassing illegal intrusions and data breaches, is spreading at an alarming rate, with attackers showing no discrimination in their targets.

Experts point out that behind such attacks, state-sponsored "AI cyberattack factories" may be operating in secret.

The list of victims is shocking, spanning diverse industries from large restaurant chains and local public universities to securities firms and mainstream news outlets. This indiscriminate, wide-net attack pattern signals that Japan’s cybersecurity environment is facing severe challenges, as its existing defense systems appear ill-equipped to handle these emerging threats.

Attack Background and Technological Drivers

The outbreak of this incident is not an isolated event; its deeper causes point to the rapid diffusion of cutting-edge Chinese open-source AI models. Internationally influential open-weight AI models such as DeepSeek, GLM, and Kimi are spreading rapidly via platforms like Hugging Face.

Unlike traditional cloud-based AI services, these open-source models allow users to deploy and operate them directly within a local environment. This feature enables attackers to bypass the monitoring mechanisms of service providers, avoiding the risk of account suspension due to violations of terms of service. This independent technical architecture provides highly concealed operational space for malicious actors.

Concerns Over “AI Cyberattack Factories”

Media analysis suggests that the accessibility of these open-source tools has given rise to potential “AI cyberattack factories.” Attackers are leveraging high-performance local AI models to assist in writing malicious code or simulating advanced penetration techniques, thereby significantly lowering the technical threshold for conducting cyberattacks.

This scale-driven production model, potentially tacitly approved or supported by state-level entities, endows attacks with a high degree of professionalism and persistence. For Japan, determining how to counter these asymmetric cyber threats rooted in open-source technology has become the core issue urgently requiring resolution in current security policies.

Impact and Outlook

Currently implicated institutions include well-known entities such as Yakiniku Kings, Osaka Metropolitan University, Daiwa Securities, Nikkei Inc., and Seiko Time Creation. The extensive reach of this incident highlights the reality that individual companies or institutions cannot single-handedly withstand systemic cyber risks.

Industry leaders are calling for strengthened international cooperation and the establishment of security norms within open-source communities to prevent the abuse of advanced technologies. Furthermore, this serves as a reminder to users worldwide that while enjoying the convenience of open-source AI, they must attach great importance to its potential security and ethical risks.