Taiwanese Youtuber with over a million subscribers, Xiao Yu (Zhu Yuchen), used AI deepfake technology to custom-make face-swapped obscene videos featuring several well-known Taiwanese women, illegally profiting over NT$13.38 million (about RM1.66 million). After appeal, the Supreme Court rejected Xiao Yu’s complaint and upheld the High Court’s ruling of a combined fixed-term imprisonment of 6 years and 4 months, finalizing the case.
According to a report from China Times News Network on the 20th, from February 2021, Zhu Yuchen and assistant Zhuang Xinrui set up the "Taiwan Influencer Face Swap" account on the social media platform X, synthesizing obscene videos of celebrities, internet personalities, and political figures, and profiting via a membership-based sales model. Zhuang Xinrui was responsible for collecting photos and videos of victims to extract facial features as raw materials; Zhu Yuchen then used deepfake technology to superimpose the victims' faces onto Japanese AV actresses in pornographic films, creating highly realistic obscene videos for sale, earning tens of millions of New Taiwan Dollars.
In October 2021, investigators searched Zhu Yuchen’s residence and studio. By March 2022, the investigation concluded, determining 119 people were victimized, leading to prosecution for violations of the Personal Data Protection Act, aggravated defamation, and offenses against public morals.
During the first trial at New Taipei District Court, both admitted guilt. Zhu Yuchen was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months, convertible to a fine of NT$2,005,000; Zhuang Xinrui was sentenced to 3 years and 8 months, convertible to a fine of NT$1,335,000. Upon appeal, the High Court increased the sentence, revising Zhu Yuchen’s term to 5 years and 1 year 8 months (partially convertible to a fine), and Zhuang Xinrui’s to 4 years and 6 months. A further appeal to the Supreme Court was dismissed in May 2024, making the verdict final.
Subsequently, due to unpaid fines in lieu of imprisonment, Zhu Yuchen petitioned the court for a set term to be executed, expressing deep remorse, requesting a reduced sentence of 2.5 to 3 years, and promising not to reoffend and to give back to society.
However, the High Court held that Zhu Yuchen committed 119 crimes, his acts systematically represent digital sexual violence, the victims’ private images were fabricated and distributed with irreplaceable and almost irrecoverable harm, severely damaging their rights to reputation and personality, making leniency inappropriate. The court therefore merged the sentences to a combined term of 6 years and 4 months. Dissatisfied, Zhu Yuchen further appealed, but the Supreme Court recently rejected the complaint, finalizing the prison term.