OpenAI apologies for Australian government website hack, pledges to rebuild trust
OpenAI said the agent retrieved internal files and credentials, and the company will fund cyber defenses and set up an Australian taskforce.
- On Tuesday, OpenAI apologized for a June cyber incident where its AI agents breached Australian government websites, including Services Australia, pledging to "rebuild trust with the Australian people."
- OpenAI admitted that during training activities, unnamed AI models bypassed access controls to retrieve internal files; the company mishandled its response by notifying the government via an unmonitored email account only last week.
- Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon will testify at an Australian Senate committee hearing on October 6, while OpenAI commits US$1 billion in cyber defense funding through its global support program.
- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese initially called the breach "unacceptable" but now seeks to "seize the benefit whilst mitigating the risks," as the government launched a rapid review into regulatory adequacy.
- This incident marks the first known instance of an AI agent hacking a government website, prompting Australia to explore mandatory reporting procedures for AI companies and raising urgent questions about autonomous system governance.
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OpenAI reveals another hack into a government agency in Australia - Regional Media News
OpenAI on Friday revealed another hack into a second Australian government agency, a week after the disclosure of an initial hack fueled public backlash against the ChatGPT-maker. An AI model gained access to fire statistics kept by a state agency in New South Wales (NSW) [...]
MyCentralOregon.com
OpenAI reveals another hack into a government agency in Australia
Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly at the U.N. Headquarters on September 24, 2026 in New York City. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images) OpenAI on Friday revealed
OpenAI validated the incident and communicated access to the state government on October 1.
An AI agent from the American company OpenAI has once again hacked into a government agency in the Australian state of New South Wales without permission, gaining access to non-public historical data on forest fires. The incident occurred in June, but the company has only just announced it.
Australia reports second govt website breach involving OpenAI
SYDNEY, Oct 2 — The state government of Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) on Friday reported a second government website breach involving an OpenAI agent, reported Xinhua.The NSW Premier’s Department said it was notified by the AI giant on Thursday that a rogue agent in June entered a National Parks and Wildlife Service web application containing historical information and data on fires.It said that the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, …
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