South Korea Investigates Telegram For Online Sex Crimes

South Korean police have initiated an investigation into the messaging platform Telegram in connection with deepfake online sex crimes. According to Yonhap news agency, the probe aims to determine whether Telegram has been involved in facilitating the distribution of sexually explicit deepfake content. The report cites a senior official from the National Office of Investigation.

Focus on Deepfake Content

The investigation will scrutinize Telegram’s role in the spread of these illicit materials. South Korean authorities are particularly concerned about reports indicating that sexually explicit deepfake images and videos of South Korean women have been frequently found in Telegram chatrooms.

Telegram’s Response

Telegram has yet to respond to requests for comment. However, the company stated last week that it employs various measures to combat harmful content on its platform, including illegal pornography. “Moderators use a combination of proactive monitoring of public parts of the platform, sophisticated AI tools, and user reports to remove millions of pieces of harmful content each day,” the company said in a statement.

Call for Cooperation

South Korean authorities have also called on Telegram and other social media platforms to collaborate in tackling the issue of sexually explicit deepfake content, signaling a broader effort to curb the misuse of digital technologies for exploitation.