SM Entertainment Announces Victory: Jail Sentence For 12 Individuals Who Made And Distributed Deepfakes Of Their Artists Secured
12 individuals who made and distributed deepfakes of SM Entertainment artists have been sent to jail!
SM Entertainment announced on the 10th of April through an official statement, “We are taking legal action against acts that cause serious harm to our artists’ personal rights, including the spread of false information, defamation, sexual harassment, deepfakes, personal attacks, insults, and invasion of privacy.”
In particular, the company once again emphasized its strong stance against the production, distribution, and possession of illegal pornographic deepfake content. SM Entertainment stated, “This is not only a malicious crime that sexually humiliates and mocks artists, causing severe shame, but also a serious offense that can lead to severe defamation and damage to their image by creating the misconception that the content is real through sophisticated manipulation,” adding, “We are continuously cooperating with investigative authorities by collecting evidence and filing complaints, and we are also actively requesting strict punishment from the court.”
According to SM Entertainment, many suspects involved in deepfake cases have already been arrested. The company explained, “Twelve individuals, including Mr. Park, were indicted on charges of violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, and all of them received suspended prison sentences,” and “Despite appeals and final appeals, all were dismissed, and their sentences have been finalized, with them currently serving their terms.”
They also noted, “Many deepfake offenders attempt to evade investigation by sharing illegal content through highly anonymous overseas SNS platforms, but we are closely cooperating with multiple law firms in the United States, and through investigative tracking, these individuals are also being apprehended. Investigations are still ongoing.”
Finally, SM Entertainment stated, “As criminal punishment for producing, distributing, or possessing deepfake content is being strictly enforced, we urge everyone to take special care not to become involved in such misconduct,” adding, “We would like to express our deep gratitude to platforms such as Telegram, X, Instagram, Discord, and DC Inside for their cooperation. We will continue to do our utmost in all areas to protect our artists’ rights.”
