This step was taken amid public and political outrage, after several domestic media agencies reported that deepfake images and videos containing pornographic content of Korean women were often found. in Telegram chat rooms .
Deepfake is a technology that simulates images of human faces, named after the combination of "deep learning" and "fake".
This technology can create fake audio, image or even video products, thanks to sophisticated artificial intelligence
A 24-hour hotline for victims will also be established and the number of management staff monitoring digital sex crimes will be doubled, the Korea Communications Standards Commission (commission) said. Compared to the current number of 70.
The Korean National Police Agency also said they will carry out a 7-month campaign to crack down on online sex crimes.
Chairman of the Korean Media Watchdog Ryu Hee-lim said he will establish a consulting unit to increase communication with social media companies on removing and blocking sexual deepfake content.
For companies that do not have offices in Korea, they want to establish a face-to-face meeting channel for regular consultation.
"The production, possession and distribution of deepfake sex crime videos is a serious crime that destroys personal dignity and rights," Ryu said.
In addition to Telegram, the commission said it would seek cooperation from social network X as well as Meta's Facebook and Instagram, as well as Google's YouTube.
Criticism of Telegram in South Korea comes just as the platform's founder Pevel Durov was arrested in France, as part of a French investigation into child pornography, drug trafficking and fraud. Cheats on encrypted messaging apps.
According to police data, the number of deepfake sex crimes in South Korea has skyrocketed from 156 cases in 2021 when data was first collected to 297 cases this year, with most of the perpetrators being criminals. young.
The victims are often female, including students and female soldiers in the Korean army.
South Koreans have submitted more than 6,400 requests for help from the Korean Communications Standards Commission to remove pornographic deepfake content this year. That's roughly the same as the 7,200 cases last year, and the commission agreed to help remove the content.
