SM Entertainment Warns Of Strong Legal Action Against Malicious Posts Targeting Artists

Hi, this is SM Entertainment.

We wish to offer a declaration concerning our legal actions versus offenses of our artists’ rights.

We highly caution that privacy on abroad platforms can no longer be utilized as a method of averting legal obligation.

Even after our previous notification, harmful material that disparages or sexually bugs our artists continues to be published on worldwide platforms, consisting of YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X (previously Twitter). In specific, intriguing material is being produced indiscriminately on YouTube, quickly spreading out distorted pictures of our artists and triggering severe damage.

In action, we performed extensive proof collection over around 3 months. We have actually finished the recognition of accounts and collection of proof not just versus so-called “cyber wreckers”– channels that repeatedly mock and libel artists– however likewise versus accounts that have actually published sexually bugging or personally violent Shorts videos and remarks.

We have actually kept the law office Shin & & Kim LLC and a U.S.-based law office to pursue discovery procedures in U.S. courts to determine the people behind these accounts. The exact same treatments are likewise underway versus a number of X (previously Twitter) accounts that have actually published harmful material targeting our artists. We will continue to make active usage of discovery procedures and take legal action without exception.

We make it clear that legal action will target not just the accounts that straight published the material however likewise users who took part by leaving remarks.

We will likewise hold wrongdoers running on domestic platforms lawfully responsible to the max level, without settlements or leniency. We constantly keep track of confidential platforms, consisting of DC Inside galleries such as Male Celebrities, Other Korean Dramas, the 2012 London Olympics, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and Girls Planet 999. We have actually submitted criminal grievances versus people who spread out incorrect info about our artists or insulted them utilizing negative language, on charges consisting of infractions of the Information and Communications Network Act and criminal insult. We have actually likewise finished proof collection for many other destructive posts and are preparing to submit extra problems.

In some cases formerly reported by us, offenders were discovered guilty at the very first trial of breaking the Information and Communications Network Act (character assassination) and insult. Appeals are presently underway, and for cases still in court, we request your understanding that we can not divulge particular information up until the judgments end up being last, in order to avoid such disclosures from possibly affecting the procedures or being utilized as scenarios beneficial to the offenders.

We continue to do something about it based upon reports sent through “KWANGYA 119,” consisting of gathering proof in genuine time and reporting posts. We repeat that all gathered products will be sent to investigative authorities as proof, despite whether the posts are erased or the accounts are shut down or changed to personal. No effort to prevent these procedures will enable criminals to leave obligation. Even if examinations and trials take significant time, we will react strongly to criminal acts targeting our artists under a zero-tolerance policy.

We want to thank domestic and global platform operators for reacting to our ask for cooperation to help with examinations. We likewise all the best thank our fans for their steadfast assistance for our artists and for reporting numerous types of destructive material. Reports sent through “KWANGYA 119” play a crucial function in our legal actions, and we request your ongoing interest and involvement.

Thank you.