JYP Entertainment’s K-pop group TWICE issues strict statement over deepfake videos of its members

Disclaimer: This article includes details of sexual assault and pornographic content.

JYP Entertainment has made a statement on the illicit exploitation of their artists, including TWICE, following a very concerning disclosure regarding deepfake pornographic content. The K-pop industry has responded quickly to the outcry among netizens over the emergence of deepfake videos that include over 200 female idols.

JYP Entertainment addressed the concerning circumstances on August 30 via TWICE’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. The company  denounced the production and dissemination of these deepfake videos, which breach the personal rights of their artists and illegally feature them.

JYP Entertainment’s statement read:

“Hello, this is JYP Entertainment.

We are gravely concerned about the recent spread of deepfake (AI-generated) videos involving our artists.

This is a blatant violation of the law, and we are in the process of collecting all relevant evidence to pursue the strongest legal action with a leading law firm, without leniency.

We want to make it clear that we will not stand by while our artists’ rights are violated and will take decisive action to address this matter to the fullest extent possible.

Thank you.”

This action is being taken in the midst of a larger global investigation into suspected sexual offenses in Korea, such as the well-known “nth room” incident. Several Telegram-based chatrooms where sexual exploitation and illicit actions have been discussed and distributed are at the center of the “nth room” scandal.

These videos were produced using deepfake technology, which presents serious moral and legal issues. By employing artificial intelligence (AI) to create explicit content, offenders are not only violating people’s privacy but also seriously upsetting the people who are portrayed.