Celebrities and Agencies Unite Against Surge in Deepfake Sex Crimes

Amid the rapid rise of deepfake sex crimes, the entertainment industry is intensifying its response to this growing issue.

In addition to the girl group TWICE, Kwon Eun-bi, NewJeans, and Yujeong, a former member of BBGIRLS, have criticized the damage caused by deepfake sex crimes.

JYP Entertainment, the agency representing TWICE, stated on the 30th that it is taking the recent spread of deepfake videos targeting its artists very seriously. "This is a clear illegal act," the agency said. "We are currently collecting all related data and are in the process of taking strong legal action with a professional law firm. We will not tolerate any acts that violate the rights and interests of our artists and will pursue justice to the fullest extent."

Deepfake sex crime videos are a new form of crime involving the synthesis and distribution of pornography using a woman's face. These videos are created by using artificial intelligence (AI) to map a specific person's face onto photos or videos of others. Recently, such videos have spread online without permission, leading to widespread complaints. Even the faces of acquaintances and relatives have been misused in deepfake sex crimes, sparking further controversy.

Earlier, Yujeong from BBGIRLS was the first to publicly address the damage caused by deepfake sex crimes, drawing significant attention. Yujeong discovered that her photo had been used in deepfake videos through an acquaintance's tip on the tvN show 'Daily Knowledge: An Adult' in February. The images are still circulating online, causing significant distress. "I felt really bad. I think it's not just me; anyone can suffer from this," she said.

NewJeans, which also includes younger members, has also been affected by deepfake sex crimes. NewJeans' agency, Ador, confirmed in June that the police are investigating individuals involved in distributing and selling fake obscene photos that combine the artists' portraits. Some of these cases have already resulted in criminal penalties in the first trial.

Following NewJeans, Kwon Eun-bi also spoke out about the damage and announced a firm response. Kwon Eun-bi's agency, Woollim Entertainment, stated last month that the artist has suffered significant mental harm due to severe defamation, including sexual harassment, personal attacks, false information, and invasion of privacy. The agency filed the first complaint based on numerous posts about the criminal acts involving synthesized portraits of the artist, and the police are investigating.

In response to these issues, the government has decided to revise laws to penalize the possession, purchase, and viewing of false videos, including deepfakes, and to increase penalties for the production and distribution of such content. With the government stepping up its efforts, there is hope that deepfake sex crimes can be effectively addressed within the domestic entertainment industry.