Yoona AI Deepfakes Include Fake Pregnancy Images: SM Promises Zero Leniency

SM Entertainment filed criminal charges on the 28th over AI-generated deepfakes of Yoona, and the label is not leaving any room for negotiation. In a statement posted to official social media, SM said it had confirmed the "indiscriminate production and distribution" of illegally composited images using Yoona's likeness and that it had already submitted evidence to prosecutors. The label's line: "No leniency or settlement of any kind."

The images circulating online were not subtle. Some showed Yoona standing beside an unidentified man; others manipulated her body to make her appear pregnant, with the man depicted touching her stomach. Fans flagged the posts, and the backlash was swift. SM confirmed it had been collecting evidence through its own monitoring system and its fan-reporting platform KWANGYA 119.

What SM Says Counts as a Crime

SM's statement goes further than just targeting the people who created the images. The label explicitly warned that sharing or re-uploading the deepfakes also carries legal exposure. Under South Korea's Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, distribution of false information constitutes defamation. The Sexual Violence Prevention and Victims Protection Act covers the editing and distribution of fabricated video and image content. Portrait rights violations round out the list. In short, SM is arguing that the chain of liability doesn't stop at the original creator.

"Please immediately stop creating, posting, sharing, or re-distributing illegal composite materials or unverified false content," the statement read, adding a pointed warning that people should take care not to find themselves "involved in an unpleasant situation" as a result of their actions.

SM closed by saying it would continue to monitor for related activity and respond aggressively to protect "the rights and reputation" of its artists. Given the specifics of what was circulating, the timing of the criminal filing, and the zero-settlement language, it's a safe read that SM wants a conviction on record, not a quiet takedown.