Telegram Takes Down Deepfake Pornography Following South Korean Pressure
Published on September 4, 2024
- Telegram was pressed by South Korea to remove reported digital sex crime videos involving deepfakes.
- A worrying rise was seen in the country, leading the Korea Communications Standards Commission and National Police Agency to get involved.
- Authorities believe there is a large group of people who consume this kind of content, which includes images of teens.
Encrypted messaging app Telegram deleted 25 digital sex crime videos pointed out by the Korea Communications Standards Commission and apologized to the Commission, according to a report published by the Korean authority.
Also, South Korea's National Police Agency (KNPA) announced on Monday that they were investigating Telegram on suspicion of "abetting" the distribution of deepfake pornography, including images of teenagers.
South Korea is experiencing a significant rise in digital sex crimes, particularly those using deepfake technology. The Commission’s report underlined the importance of creating an email hotline to expedite requests for content takedowns.
This comes on the heels of pressure from both South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has highlighted a "deepfake crisis," and French authorities detaining Telegram's founder, Pavel Durov, last week over enabling organized crime, illicit transactions, drug trafficking, fraud, and more.
Human Rights Watch said hundreds of women and girls are targeted through deepfake sexual images being shared online in South Korea and criticized the nation's delayed response, stating that digital sex crimes are a pervasive and deadly issue that has been overlooked for years.
President Yoon has mobilized local authorities to address the urgent issue of deepfake sexual crime videos, which are reportedly consumed by a private group with over 220,000 members.
The Communications Standards Commission previously reached out to French authorities for support in managing Telegram's role in these crimes, emphasizing the severe social harm caused by such content in South Korea.
Despite the recent actions, Telegram has not publicly commented on its South Korean operations. It remains unclear whether their cooperation signifies a long-term strategy change following Durov's detention.
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