Actress subjected to AI deepfake video impersonating her likeness distributed via YouTube

Summary

Veteran actress Yeom Hye Ran became a victim of an AI deepfake rights violation when an unauthorized AI-generated video using her likeness was uploaded to YouTube on March 31. Her agency, Ace Factory, confirmed the video was produced without consent and was later removed. The incident followed a previous controversy involving the AI film 'The Inspector,' which used Yeom Hye Ran’s likeness without proper authorization. The misuse of AI in film production has raised concerns about portrait rights violations, a topic that gained global attention during the 2023 Hollywood strikes. The Hollywood strikes, which lasted 118 days, led to agreements on AI usage regulations, wage increases, and improved residuals, but similar issues are now emerging in the Korean film industry. The incident highlights the urgent need for proactive measures to prevent AI-related privacy and rights violations.