JYP Entertainment Addresses Issue Regarding Artists’ Deepfakes: ‘Pursue Strongest Legal Action’

JYP Entertainment Addresses Issue Regarding Artists’ Deepfakes: ‘Pursue Strongest Legal Action’

Following the widespread mass protest by K-pop fandoms against the use of idol deepfakes, JYP Entertainment issued an official statement and issued a warning to those who violate this practice.

On August 31st, JYP Entertainment, the agency representing TWICE, ITZY, and NMIXX, issued a firm response to deepfake videos featuring its female artists.

The label announced through the artists’ fan communities:

“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.”

The controversy surrounding deepfake videos began on the 30th when a list claiming to expose the victims of R-19 deepfake videos was shared on X. The list included over 200 female celebrities, including members of TWICE, ITZY, and NMIXX.

Deepfakes refer to photos and videos that have been digitally manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

By utilizing this tool, individuals are able to generate the desired expressions and movements of a person by simply providing a few photos of that person.

For celebrities whose faces are recognizable, acquiring photographs from different perspectives is simple. However, this raises concerns about their potential use on p*rnographic websites, for sexual exploitation, and as a means of blackmailing the victims.

As a response, K-pop fan communities, including ONCEs, MIDZYs, and NSWERs, joined forces to bring awareness to X and call for action from JYPE. Fans utilized hashtags such as #JYP_PROTECT_TWICE, #JYP_PROTECT_ITZY, and #JYP_PROTECT_NMIXX, along with the tagline “JYP PROTECT YOUR ARTISTS,”to trend on social media. Concurrently, a large-scale email campaign on X was also organized.

Recently, there has been a surge in the production of deepfake videos featuring celebrities. As a result, not only were JYP artists targeted, but idols such as Kwon Eun Bi and former Brave Girls member Yuojoung have also spoken out about the negative impact of these unauthorized videos.

The spread of deepfake sexual exploitation materials has resulted in an increase in sexual crimes, which has become a pressing social issue. Presently, South Korea is dealing with the consequences of the “new nth room”controversy.

This problem arose when it was discovered that male students were circulating deepfake videos of their teachers, classmates, family members, and other women in order to coerce them into engaging in sexual acts.

The music industry was also affected by the spread of deepfake sexual crimes.

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