NewJeans Legal Challenge: Combatting Defamation on YouTube
NewJeans, a leading K-pop group, is suing Google in a California federal court to unmask an individual spreading defamatory statements about them on YouTube.
According to the court filing, YouTube user @Middle7 shared many defamatory videos against the group, amassing over 13 million views. Eugene Kim, their lawyer, also emphasized the account’s use of derogatory language and mockery toward NewJeans, causing significant reputational damage, as noted in the filing.
The March 27 legal action reflects the growing trend of K-pop artists combating the pressures of South Korea’s online fan culture. Approval of their request would empower them to pursue criminal charges against the YouTube user in South Korea for defamation and insult. In addition, Ador, NewJeans’ management agency, reaffirmed its dedication to safeguarding artists’ rights by confirming its pursuit of legal action against the videos.
my favourite genre of newjeans ot5 pics pic.twitter.com/W2j8UcdKLx
— ۟ (@Hyeliee) April 11, 2024
The five-member K-pop group soared to the top of the Billboard 200 chart last year with their second album, Get Up. Moreover, this album solidified their prominence among the latest wave of influential South Korean girl groups in the global K-pop scene.
South Korean celebrities undergo extensive online hate targeting their appearance, talents, and personal lives. To safeguard their reputations, their management often turns to defamation lawsuits, leading to the identification and arrest of offenders on social media platforms within South Korea.
I’ve never seen such a group have so much love for eachother as newjeans pic.twitter.com/fkQWORE1uT
— ✿ (@haerin1st) April 11, 2024
Monitoring and tackling hateful and defamatory content on international social media platforms has posed significant challenges.
In NewJeans’ case, the band filed a criminal complaint against the anonymous YouTuber in Seoul. However, they were hindered by the account’s anonymity. Kim failed to obtain information from Google about the YouTube account. Consequently, he filed a motion in a California court under a federal statute to get the necessary documents for the foreign proceedings.
If, and when, the YouTuber’s identity is revealed, NewJeans can proceed with their lawsuit against the YouTuber in South Korea.
