What Is Fingerprint Theft Pressurizing Celebs To Avoid Making The Korean Heart Sign?
Reportedly, the fingerprint theft linked to the photos has gained the attention of many South Koreans who are known for posing like this in pictures.
In this digital age, posing for a selfie with your friends with the classic ‘V’ sign is getting dangerous now. The AI technology has officially gone down the dark road, with fingerprint theft growing day by day, as per reports. During a recent reality programme, Li Chang, a Chinese security expert, revealed how fingerprints could be stolen from a celebrity’s selfie using AI tools and warned everyone about how the seemingly harmless pose could put personal biometric information at risk. Read to know more about it here.
What Is The Fingerprint Theft?
Li Chang stated that if one poses with the pads of their fingers directly exposed towards the camera from within 1.5m of the lens, it’s possible for the fingerprint information to get extracted clearly. Pictures taken from a distance of 1.5m to 3 m could also reveal roughly half of the fingerprint details, reportedly. Soon after this was released, concerns over fingerprint replication from photos grew. In 2025, a group of criminals from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, tried unlocking a smart door lock through a picture uploaded online by the owner. The famous ‘V’ sign is a common pose among Western countries and has been a staple in East Asian countries like South Korea, China, and Japan.
Reportedly, the fingerprint theft linked to the photos has gained the attention of many South Koreans who are known for posing like this in pictures. They started writing how this was a “must” in group pictures and how they are now “Scared” to even pose. Apart from the V sign, other gestures include the finger heart made by crossing the thumb with the index finger, half-heart gestures with one hand against the cheek and the flower pose, where both palms are put beneath the chin like flower petals.
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This especially concerns the celebrities who often pose like this at events. Having said that, not all selfie poses are a security risk, as these thefts can only be replicated when conditions such as lightning, focus, shooting distance, and image quality are suitable, according to the director of the Qianxin Industry Security Research Centre, Mr Pei Zhiyoung. He stated that it was safer not to share many pictures of oneself with fingerprints showing online.
First Published: May 14, 2026 6:05 PMFAQs
What Is The Fingerprint Theft?
Fingerprint Theft is the unconsented replication and misuse of someone's fingerprint data, often to pass the biometric security systems in phone locks or identity verifications.
Can Fingerprints Really Be Stolen From Pictures?
Yes, it is possible to steal fingerprints from fingers in some cases. This includes high-resolution images where fingerprints are clearly visible and could be used to recreate fingerprint patterns using advanced technology like AI.
Which Poses Are Considered Risky For Fingerprint Theft?
Commonly used poses such as the V sign or the peace sign, thumbs-up. hearts gesture with the thumb and index finger crossed are among poses which are risky.
