Reddit changed its free API usage policy a few weeks ago resulting in some third-party apps being shut down. Thousands of subreddits later went on strike in protest of this API policy but to date Reddit has refused to revert to its previous policy. Today the BlackCat hacker group is threatening to leak Reddit data to the internet if they persist.
BlackCat hacked Reddit last February. They claim the 80GB of stolen data has information on how Reddit is tracking and blocking some users. No user personal information is believed to have been successfully stolen during the attack. In addition to asking Reddit to change its API policy, BlackCat is also asking for a $4.5 million ransom to be paid by July 1.
Despite receiving media attention, a strike succeeded by thousands of subreddit moderators is now headed for failure with the site's CEO refusing to budge. More and more subreddits have returned to service after Reddit threatened to replace protesting mods with new ones.
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