HYBE is actively committed to safeguarding its artists’ rights and well-being.

The Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency (NGPPA) in South Korea has collaborated with the global entertainment powerhouse, HYBE, to apprehend eight individuals who are allegedly involved in the creation and distribution of deepfake videos featuring artists from HYBE Music Group. This action has been confirmed by Billboard. Deepfakes are manipulated images, videos, or audio clips that have been altered or synthetically generated using advanced artificial intelligence technologies, raising significant concerns about authenticity and consent in the digital age.

The investigation was initiated following a Memorandum of Understanding established between HYBE and NGPPA in February 2024, aimed at combating cybercrimes that threaten their artists and ensuring their safety. Through this partnership, HYBE provided crucial information that enabled NGPPA to track down and identify the suspects involved. Furthermore, dedicated fans played a vital role in the investigation by reporting suspicious activities through the HYBE Artist Rights Violation Report Center tip line, showcasing the community’s commitment to protecting their favorite artists.

“HYBE will take decisive action against crimes that violate our artists’ portrait rights and reputations, adhering to a strict zero-tolerance and no-settlement policy,” stated Jason Jaesang Lee, the CEO of HYBE, in a recent press statement. He emphasized the company’s determination to continuously monitor these issues and pursue legal measures to eliminate such serious offenses from affecting their artists’ lives and careers.

Ho-seung Kim, the district chief of NGPPA, also reassured the public that efforts to locate deepfake suspects will persist. “The increase in deepfake crimes that exploit the vulnerabilities of celebrities—who often struggle to report such offenses themselves—is alarming,” he mentioned in his statement. “Deepfake technology represents a grave type of crime that can severely disrupt the daily lives of victims, and incidents targeting public figures are particularly concerning.” This highlights the urgent need for effective measures to combat this growing threat.

As of the latest updates, HYBE has not disclosed the identities of the suspects or the specific artists who have been affected by these deepfake incidents, maintaining confidentiality as the investigation continues.