Chances are that most of the news you have heard in the past few weeks has been about the Sony hack. This was one of the most costly digital hacks in history, with dozens of emails and movies leaked online. Such emails have revealed upcoming movie plans, such as a 21 Jump Street / Men in Black crossover film. Most importantly, however, was a threat by the hackers directed at Sony Pictures Entertainment, the studio behind The Interview. The film, staring Seth Rogan and James Franco, is a comedy in which the two are assigned a mission to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jung-un.
The following is the exact message from the hackers:
“Warning. We will clearly show it to you at the very time and places ‘The Interview’ be shown, including the premiere, how bitter fate those who seek fun in terror should be doomed to. Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made. The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you’d better leave.) Whatever comes in the coming days is called by the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment. All the world will denounce the SONY" (New York Post).
This threat has been the subject of much debate, and has resulted in the cancellation of the scheduled Christmas-day release of the film The Interview. The FBI has recently confirmed that North Korea was behind the hack.
In a press conference, President Obama said that Sony made a mistake in pulling The Interview from theaters. Obama added that we will respond to the attack and that "We cannot have a society in which some dictator someplace can start imposing censorship here in the United States" (Huffington Post).
Despite the claim by the FBI, North Korea insists that they were not behind the attack and will prove it by doing a joint investigation with the United States to find the hackers.
I personally believe that North Korea was responsible for the hack because it only makes sense with the threats we received. In addition, North Korea declared back in June that they considered the film an "act of war" and promised "merciless retaliation against the United States if The Interview is released" (Time). This hack seems like the "retaliation" they were talking about.
I also think that Sony Pictures Entertainment made a poor decision in pulling the release of the film days before its scheduled release. They put a great amount of effort in promoting the film, making many people excited to go see it. What I think they should have done is cancel its release months ago when North Korea first said what they think of the film. It's almost like they had to wait for something to happen in order to take North Korea seriously. Moreover, I do think that it is a satirical film and it shouldn't be taken so seriously. But, when such threats are issued against our country, then it is only wise to take necessary precautions. Hopefully, people anticipating the film will be able to see it in the future with a digital release.
