South Korean police investigate Telegram over deepfake sexual content

• Published On: 02 September 2024 at 20:12

South Korean authorities have launched an investigation into Telegram to determine whether the encrypted messaging app was involved in the distribution of sexually explicit deepfake content, Yonhap News Agency reported on Monday.

The investigation follows significant public and political backlash over the spread of such content, which has been widely reported in Telegram chatrooms.

Yonhap cited the head of the National Office of Investigation, but the office's cyber investigation bureau declined to provide additional information. This investigation builds on previous statements by Cho Ji-ho, commissioner of the National Policy Agency, who stated that his agency was considering charging secure messaging apps with aiding and abetting criminal activity.

This development is consistent with South Korea's recent pledge to crack down on sexually exploitative deepfake crimes. It also coincides with a French investigation into Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of Telegram, as French authorities investigate organised crime on the platform.

In parliamentary debates, Cho acknowledged the difficulties and complexities of investigating secure messaging services. Telegram has yet to respond to a Reuters inquiry, but it did say last week that it actively moderates harmful content, including illegal pornography.

South Korea is said to be the most targeted country for deepfake pornography, with South Korean celebrities accounting for 53% of those featured, according to a 2023 report by US startup Security Hero.

This year, South Korean police have reported a significant increase in deepfake sex crime cases, with 297 reported so far compared to 156 in all of 2021. The majority of victims and perpetrators are teenagers, according to authorities.

In response to these challenges, South Korea's media regulator has called on social media companies to be more active in removing and blocking such content, as well as for regular collaboration with French authorities on Telegram-related issues. Furthermore, the South Korean government has announced plans to push for stricter laws prohibiting the purchase and viewing of sexually exploitative deepfakes.