Telegram has issued an apology to South Korean authorities regarding its management of deepfake pornographic material disseminated through its messaging platform, which has contributed to a growing digital sex crime crisis in the nation.
This statement comes shortly after South Korean police announced an investigation into Telegram, alleging the company of “abetting” the spread of explicit images. Recently, numerous Telegram chatrooms — many operated by teenagers — were discovered to be generating sexually explicit “deepfakes” using altered images of young women.
Authorities confirmed that Telegram has since removed the identified videos from its platform. In a communication to South Korea’s Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), Telegram expressed that the circumstances were “unfortunate” and offered apologies for any misunderstandings. The company also reported the removal of 25 deepfake videos as per KCSC requests.
Additionally, Telegram suggested establishing a dedicated email address for ongoing communication with the regulatory body. KCSC praised Telegram’s response as “very forward-looking” and acknowledged the company’s recognition of the situation’s seriousness.
Deepfake technology, which uses artificial intelligence to merge the faces of real individuals with fabricated bodies, has incited considerable public outrage in South Korea. Media investigations uncovered that police were probing deepfake pornography rings at two prominent universities in the country. In the last five days alone, authorities have received 118 reports pertaining to such illicit videos, with seven suspects, including six teenagers, being questioned recently.
These chat groups have connections to various schools and universities nationwide, with many of the victims being acquaintances of the perpetrators. Under South Korean law, individuals found guilty of creating sexually explicit deepfakes can face up to five years in prison and fines reaching 50 million won (approximately $37,500).
These alarming developments follow the arrest in France of Telegram’s Russian-born founder, on suspicions of child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraud linked to the messaging platform. He has since faced legal charges.
In response to the growing crisis, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has called for a thorough investigation and decisive action to tackle digital sex crimes. Women’s rights advocates have criticized authorities for insufficiently addressing sexual exploitation occurring via Telegram, recalling a 2019 incident where a sex ring utilized the app to coerce numerous women and children into producing pornographic content, resulting in a lengthy prison sentence for the ringleader.
