Global entertainment lifestyle platform company HYBE has partnered with the Korean police to combat deepfake videos targeting its artists.
HYBE’s K-pop artists include BTS, Seventeen, ENHYPEN, Tomorrow X Together, ILLIT, Le Sserafim, TWS and BOYNEXTDOOR.
The company signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency (NGPPA) to combat the rising threat of deepfake cybercrimes targeting the company’s artists across its multi-labels within the HYBE Music Group APAC.
HYBE Music Group APAC oversees operations in South Korea and Japan.
Jinsoo Jung (right), chief legal officer of HYBE, and Ho-Seung Kim, district chief of the Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency, sign the memorandum of understanding to combat deepfake crimes targeting HYBE artists (Photos from HYBE)
HYBE building in Seoul (Photo from HYBE's website)
According to HYBE, as artists face increased vulnerability to online crimes due to the rapid creation and distribution of deepfake videos, the memorandum includes swift action against offenders, including expedited arrests and the launch of a dedicated hotline for reporting such crimes in Korea, strengthening overall efforts to protect artists from online exploitation.
Deepfake refers to videos, images, or audio that have been manipulated using artificial intelligence.
The initiative underscores HYBE’s proactive approach to combating cybercrimes and reinforcing the safety and well-being of its artists, with advanced and systematic protection measures being implemented across its multi labels in response to the evolving digital landscape.
NGPPA, renowned for its expertise in investigating cybercrimes, has been ranked the first in South Korea for cyber sexual violence investigations in the first half of 2023 and 2024, and was recognized as the country’s top cybercrime unit by the National Police Agency’s National Investigation Center last year.
Through the partnership with HYBE, NGPPA aims to further strengthen its capabilities in the entertainment industry.
“We are delighted to collaborate with NGPPA, a recognized leader in the investigation of cybercrimes. HYBE is steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding the rights of our artists in today’s digital age,” said Jason Jaesang Lee, CEO of HYBE.
“We expect that our partnership with HYBE, Korea’s top entertainment company, will significantly improve the efficiency of our investigations,” said Ho-seung Kim, district chief of NGPPA. ”As digital crimes become more sophisticated with the advancement of technology, we will enhance our investigative expertise based on the agreement.”