BTS trolls who post malicious content or spread rumors will face legal action, warns Big Hit Entertainment
Big Hit Entertainment isn't playing around. The South Korean entertainment agency behind globally famous boy groups such as BTS and TXT, or soloist Lee Hyun, has announced a relentless approach toward those who try to smear the name of BTS, threatening "strong legal punishment" with "no mercy."
Any netizens or public who spread rumors or insult the group will face legal action issued by Big Hit Entertainment. According to Korea Dispatch, the company said in a statement, “We are taking regular legal actions against authors of malicious posts that contain defamation, insults, sexual harassment, false facts and rumors about BTS."
"It includes not only those who have previously been convicted and sentenced to fines, but also suspected of continuing to write malicious posts even though they are currently being investigated due to additional charges," the statement added.
The agency continued to state that all accounts with malicious posts are being monitored while some have already been sued. “There are also those who created dozens of accounts and write malicious posts. We monitor all accounts that are believed to belong to the respondent and sued multiple accounts," Big Hit Entertainment said, adding, "We also plan to proceed with a civil damage claim against the suspects.”
The agency noted, “We will take more serious measures to ensure that malicious commenters will be subject to strong legal punishment and there will be no mercy or prejudice in this process in the future.”
The agency has become increasingly protective over their groups and their aforementioned statement is also a response to trolls who have ongoingly spewed hate towards BTS member Jimin for his food habits and body image issues. At the time, the agency noted, "For these individuals, we will initiate legal proceedings against them until their malicious behaviors stop completely.”
Big Hit Entertainment is not the first entity to take action against online malicious behavior. Announced as a world-first, the Australian government is considering a new world-leading Online Safety Bill for cyber abuse laws. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the proposal would fine abusers as well as unmask and publically identify them under these draft laws.
The Online Safety Bill will require the removal of image-based abuse and cyberbullying content with 24 hours of receiving notice from eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. Companies that don’t follow this directive will be hit with a $550,000 fine while individuals will receive a $111,000 fine.