Chinese Student Faces 3-Year Sentence for Creating 1,141 Deepfakes of Classmates

Prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison sentence for a Chinese graduate student accused of creating more than 1,100 deepfake images using photos of his female classmates. The student, identified as A., is currently detained and faces charges related to the habitual editing and distribution of false videos under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.

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A committed 1,141 deepfake images over six months, which indicates the poor nature of the crime.

Authorities allege that A., a doctoral student at a Seoul university, spent six months synthesizing images of seven female victims from his research lab. These images were reportedly designed to induce sexual desire and humiliation. The deepfake material was stored on his personal laptop and discovered when he attempted to remove other research data.

A.'s defense team acknowledged all charges and stated that he has made criminal reparations of 7 million won (approximately $5,100) to each victim. They argued for leniency, citing his full confession, lack of prior criminal record, and the fact that he has been expelled from university, making his continued stay in Korea difficult. The defense also emphasized that the images were not leaked and were not created with the intent to distribute them.

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The victims are still suffering from fear, trauma, and pain due to this incident.

However, the victims' legal representative urged the court to impose a severe penalty, stating that the victims continue to suffer from fear, trauma, and distress. They explicitly rejected any settlement or withdrawal of reparations. Prosecutors highlighted the "poor nature" of the crime, noting the scale of 1,141 deepfake images created over six months. The court is scheduled to deliver its sentence on October 10.

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We have no intention of reaching a settlement or accepting the returned deposit.