After the mass protest of K-pop fandoms against idol deepfakes, JYP Entertainment released its official statement and warned violators.
On Aug. 31st, JYP Entertainment, the agency of TWICE, ITZY, and NMIXX revealed its strong response to deepfake videos involving its girl groups.
Through the artists' fan communities, the label stated:
"Hello, this is JYP Entertainment.
We are seriously taking the recent spread of deepfake ( AI-generated) videos targeting our artists.
This is blatantly an illegal act, and we are currently in the process of collecting all related evidence to pursue the strongest legal action without leniency together with a specialized law firm.
We want to emphasize that we will absolutely not tolerate any acts that violate the rights of our artists, and will deal with them resolutely to the end."
Read also: 'JYP PROTECT YOUR ARTIST': Fans Demand Label's Action Against TWICE, ITZY, NMIXX's Deepfake Videos
This deepfake controversy started on the 30th when a supposed list of idols who were victims of deepfake R-19 videos was shared on X. Among the 200+ female stars named were members of TWICE, ITZY, and NMIXX.
Deepfakes are digitally altered photos and videos that utilize artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Using this tool, people can create their desired expressions and movements with just a few photos of an existing person.
In the case of celebrities whose faces are known, it is easy to obtain photos from various angles, which raises concerns of it being used for p*rn sites, sexual abuse, and blackmail victims.
As a result, K-pop fandoms including ONCEs, MIDZYs, and NSWERs teamed up to call the attention of JYPE on X. Fans used hashtags such as #JYP_PROTECT_TWICE, #JYP_PROTECT_ITZY, #JYP_PROTECT_NMIXX with the tagline, JYP PROTECT YOUR ARTIST to trend on the platform. At the same time, a mass email event on X also took place.
Lately, the creation of deepfakes using celebs has become rampant. Due to this, JYP artists were not only the reported victims, but idols such as Kwon Eun Bi and former Brave Girls Yuojoung also complained about being harmed by these illegal videos.
Sexual crimes related to the spread of deepfake sexual exploitation materials have also emerged as a serious social problem, and South Korea is currently facing the aftermath of the "new nth room" controversy.
This issue sparked when male students were caught sharing deepfake videos of their teachers, classmates family members, and other women to blackmail victims into doing heinous, sexual acts with them.
The damage from deepfake sexual crimes then started spreading to the music industry.
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Written by Eunice Dela Cruz