IT’S EXHAUSTING to live in a world where women are constantly sexualized.
Yesterday, P-Pop girl group BINI’s management, Star Magic, posted a statement to social media with regard to inappropriate deepfake photos and videos of the members circulating in a Telegram group chat and on social media.
“It has come to our attention that there are malicious, edited deep fake photos and videos of BINI members circulating on social media,” it read.
“We strongly condemn these harmful acts. Our team has already taken action to remove some of these accounts.”
#BINI : Advisory pic.twitter.com/iREzIL7S7q
— BINI_PH (@BINI_ph) September 2, 2024
In their post, they also stated that they are currently working with government agencies and authorities to identify those who have been creating and spreading these photos, and that they will be taking any necessary measures to ensure the safety of BINI’s members.
While many have shown happiness over the fact that BINI is being protected, others have called out Star Magic for posting their statement so late.
One X user wrote: “Words are just words without action. This simple post was long overdue. Hoping it doesn’t just end with this.”
“Kung di pa kakalampagin overnight walang mangyayari,” another wrote.
“Sana talaga mabigyan ng nararapat na aksyon.”
Many other fans (Blooms) also clamored “Finally!,” under Star Magic’s post as, before they’d even made a statement, #SMProtectBINI had already been trending for hours.
About deepfakes
Deepfakes are images or videos that are generated by artificial intelligence, which allows creators to make anyone do anything, as seen in someone using it to make Barack Obama call Donald Trump “a complete dipshit,” or to make Jon Snow apologize for the ending of “Game of Thrones,” reports The Guardian.
The Guardian also notes that 96% of these are pornographic, and that 99% of them map faces from female celebrities onto porn stars, depicting them doing lewd acts.
As per Danielle Citron, a professor of law at Boston University: “Deepfake technology is being weaponised against women.”
Pleads for privacy
Time and time again, BINI’s members have pleaded for privacy and respect from their fans. Just last month, Gwen Apuli, a member of the group took to X to ask fans not to knock on their rooms to ask for photos, especially during times that they’re supposed to be resting.
Before this, there was another incident last June wherein BINI had to cut their Independence Day performance at Luneta Park short due to their fans not listening to them, climbing up on posts and going over the barriers, even though the members had asked them numerous times to stop doing so.
As a result, Jhoanna Robles, the leader of the group, announced that they were going to be ending their performance.
Many clips of the members being mobbed by fans have also circulated around social media.
It’s been a long time since the Philippines has had a local girl group become as popular as BINI has become, and understandably, this is a new experience that many are still navigating. Everyone is excited, and everyone wants the attention of their idols.
The members of BINI, however, are still human beings. It’s important to treat them as such, and to give them the respect and privacy that they deserve.
