Eight suspects have been apprehended by the police for creating and distributing deepfake videos targeting artists from HYBE Music Group.
According to the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency, six of the suspects, who operated Telegram chat rooms to produce and distribute these fake videos, have been detained.
This successful investigation was the result of a close collaboration between HYBE and the Gyeonggi Northern Police, who established a hotline to combat deepfake crimes. Earlier this year, on February 25, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to eradicate such crimes. As deepfake crimes targeting artists have been on the rise, HYBE and the police agency have worked together to prevent victimization and ensure a swift response.
HYBE reported the illegal videos, which featured the faces of their artists, to the police and provided crucial information for tracking and apprehending the suspects. The Gyeonggi Northern Police, with their expertise in digital crimes, quickly identified and arrested the perpetrators based on the information provided by HYBE.
Fans also played a significant role in the arrest of the deepfake crime suspects. Since September last year, HYBE has been operating the 'HYBE Artist Rights Violation Report Center' to protect their artists' rights. Through fan reports, HYBE was able to quickly become aware of the crimes involving defamatory synthetic posts.
HYBE plans to continue collaborating with law enforcement to enhance their artist protection system.
Kim Ho-seung, Chief of the Gyeonggi Northern Police, stated, "Deepfake crimes, which exploit the vulnerabilities of celebrities who find it difficult to report their victimization, are rampant. These crimes severely disrupt victims' lives, and crimes targeting celebrities are no exception. The Gyeonggi Northern Police will continue to track and apprehend those involved."
HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang declared, "We will respond firmly to crimes infringing on our artists' portrait rights and honor, adhering to a principle of zero tolerance and no settlements. We plan to maintain vigilant monitoring and legal action to prevent similar cases."
By Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr