Hacktivist Group Anonymous Launches Cyberattack Against Fukushima Plant

The Anonymous group conducted a cyber attack on the Fukushima nuclear plant in protest against the Japanese government’s approved plan, endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to release treated wastewater into the ocean.

According to cybersecurity company NNT, Anonymous has escalated its cyber attacks in recent months due to the IAEA’s report in July, which claimed that the measures taken by the Fumio Kishida government adhere to international “standards”.

Kishida is scheduled to visit the nuclear power plant this weekend to inspect the discharge facilities and storage conditions, while a ministerial meeting is planned to determine the commencement of operations, as reported by the Sankei newspaper.

The decision to release the treated water has raised significant concerns among neighboring countries, including South Korea, which has imposed a ban on fishery products from the Fukushima region. However, they anticipate a “minimal impact” on their coastlines.

The water, considered to have a “low radiological impact” on the population and the environment as stated by the IAEA, is currently stored in tanks after undergoing the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), which effectively removes almost all radioactive substances except for tritium, a naturally occurring hydrogen isotope.

Since the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March 2011, which led to the meltdown of three reactor cores and the loss of emergency cooling systems, a substantial amount of radioactive water has accumulated at the plant, resulting from a mixture of rainwater and underground streams.