Indonesian footballers protest AI-generated photo edits by fans
Three Indonesian national football team players publicly complained in September 2025 that fans were using AI image generation tools to create intimate photos of them with people who were not their partners. The players said the edits harmed them personally and violated their privacy, with one player threatening to block accounts posting such content.
What happened
Indonesian national football team players Rizky Ridho, Justin Hubner, and Sandy Walsh publicly protested AI-generated image edits of themselves created by fans on social media in September 2025.
The edited photos depicted the players in intimate scenarios, such as kissing or embracing women who were not their actual partners. Ridho said his photo was edited to show him with a woman who was not his wife, Hubner's photo was edited to depict him kissing a woman other than his partner Jen, and Walsh stated the edits portrayed him in inappropriate poses.
Reported impact
The players said the edits caused them personal harm and violated their privacy. Walsh stated he would begin blocking accounts if similar edits continued to circulate on Instagram, saying the conduct was intolerable.
Index analysis
A template urging users to stop using AI to create inappropriate edits of celebrities circulated on Instagram, reposted by over 22,000 users. The template stated: 'Our idols are human beings, not objects of fantasy. Let's learn together to respect them.'
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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