SM Entertainment Pursues U.S. Court Discovery to Identify Anonymous Accounts

SM Entertainment is expanding its legal campaign against malicious online content by turning to U.S. courts to identify people operating anonymous accounts on global platforms.

In an October 12 update, the company said it had conducted approximately three months of intensive evidence collection involving accounts accused of repeatedly mocking, defaming, sexually harassing or personally attacking its artists.

SM said the evidence covers so-called “cyber wrecker” YouTube channels as well as Shorts videos, comments and accounts posting other abusive material.

The company has retained Korean law firm Shin & Kim alongside a U.S.-based law firm and says discovery proceedings are now underway in U.S. courts to identify the individuals behind the accounts.

The same process is being used against several X accounts accused of posting malicious material about SM artists.

SM said it intends to continue using U.S. discovery proceedings as part of its enforcement strategy and warned that its legal response may extend beyond the original content creators to users who participate through comments.

The move represents a new cross-border step in a wider campaign the company has pursued throughout the year.

In July, SM publicly identified numerous accounts and users across X, YouTube, DC Inside and other platforms that it said were already subject to legal action. More recent artist-specific notices have addressed malicious posts, false information and illegally manipulated AI content.

SM also said October 12 that some defendants in previously reported domestic cases have received guilty verdicts at first trial, with appeals ongoing.

The company continues to collect reports through its KWANGYA 119 system and says evidence already secured can still be submitted to investigators even if posts are deleted or accounts are deactivated or made private.