South Korea’s Deepfake Sex Crime Crisis: What You Need to Know
South Korean authorities are intensifying their efforts against sexually exploitative deepfakes. This week, regulators and police have called on Telegram and other social media platforms to assist in their crackdown on these disturbing practices.
Recent reports reveal that sexually explicit deepfake images and videos of South Korean women have proliferated in Telegram chatrooms. Feminist groups and international K-pop fans have rallied on social media, urging action and sharing tips to expose these harmful networks.
The controversy escalated following the recent sentencing of a man involved in deepfake pornography targeting female students at Seoul National University.
South Korea faces a significant issue with deepfake pornography, with its singers and actresses appearing in over half of global deepfake cases, according to a 2023 report by Security Hero. This year alone, South Korean police have investigated 297 deepfake sex crime cases, a sharp rise from 156 cases reported in 2021. Many victims and perpetrators are teenagers.
In response, South Korean authorities are pushing for tougher laws against the purchase and viewing of sexually exploitative deepfakes. They are also planning a seven-month campaign to tackle digital sex crimes, which includes increasing regulatory staff and establishing a 24-hour hotline for victims.
Social media companies are taking action as well. Telegram has stated that it actively moderates harmful content on its platform.
Meanwhile, YouTube recently demonetized a channel run by a South Korean YouTuber who minimized the impact of deepfake crimes.
With these combined efforts, South Korea aims to curb the spread of deepfakes and protect individuals from digital exploitation.
