The US Department of Justice has accused the Swiss hacker of stealing personal data a week after the hacker claimed responsibility for helping to hack the online systems of a US startup using CCTV cameras, AP reports.

The charge against 21-year-old Till Kottmann was brought by a grand jury in the Western District of Washington, located in Seattle.

A number of charges date back to 2019 and include the theft of credentials, as well as the release of source code and confidential information from more than 100 organizations, including companies and government agencies.

Kottmann cited the latest hacking and leaked customer footage of Californian surveillance camera supplier Verkada as part of exposing the dangers of mass surveillance.

Acting US Attorney Tessa Gorman denied these motives.

“These actions can increase vulnerabilities for everyone from large corporations to individual consumers,” Gorman wrote. “Wrapping oneself in an allegedly altruistic motive does not remove the criminal stench from such intrusion, theft, and fraud.”