Sexualized Celebrity Characters in Aion 2 May Cause Legal Issues

Controversial Celebrity Avatars in Aion 2 Raise Legal Concerns over Digital Exploitation and Image Rights

Aion 2, currently in its initial testing phase, has sparked controversy surrounding the use of its character creation tools to produce strikingly realistic avatars of celebrities, including minor idols. These avatars are then sold within the in-game Style Shop marketplace, raising concerns about potential violations of image rights and digital exploitation. South Korean lawyer JeongMok Kang, specializing in digital sex crimes, has examined the content. She suggests that creating and distributing these avatars may cross the line from creative freedom into illegal territory, especially when they depict minors. Kang argues that exploiting someone’s likeness—even within a video game—to gain views or reputation could lead to legal action. Moreover, profiting from the sale of sexually suggestive avatars could be construed as supporting exploitation. While the characters are 3D models, Kang points out that laws regarding digital impersonation consider public perception and interpretation, not just the technology used.

Digital Personality Rights and Aion 2’s Virtual Celebrity Characters

The Aion 2 community is divided, with some users objecting to the practice and others defending it as in-game freedom. Kang believes that these virtual actions could have real-world legal repercussions, similar to the misuse of deepfakes. She also argues that a character closely resembling a real person and presented in a sexualized manner could be deemed a violation of their “personality rights”—an individual’s right to control their public image and likeness. The Style Shop, where players buy and sell custom characters, allows creators to profit from celebrity-inspired avatars, including those based on minors. This raises the possibility of both criminal and civil liability for creators who generate income from such content. NCSoft, as the operator of the Style Shop, also faces potential liability because it manages the data displayed and profits from the sale of avatar presets and costumes. The central issue is the achievable level of realism in Aion 2. When a virtual character is easily mistaken for a real person and placed in sexualized contexts without consent, it risks legal classification alongside deepfakes or other forms of abusive digital representation. At that point, according to Kang, it moves beyond the realm of creative freedom.

Aion 2 Global Launch Amid Controversy Over Virtual Celebrity Characters in South Korea and Taiwan

Aion 2 was released in South Korea and Taiwan last month, with a global launch planned. NCSoft has not yet issued an official statement on this controversy. [Image credit: NCSoft]

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