South Korean police have launched an investigation into the popular messaging app Telegram over claims it may have helped facilitate the spread of sexually explicit deepfake content. The National Office of Investigation-led investigation will establish whether Telegram aided these online sex crimes.
Investigation Details: The investigation was launched, according to the Yonhap news agency, after some reports started emerging about explicit deepfake images and videos of South Korean women being shared across Telegram chatrooms. It quoted the head of the National Office of Investigation as saying that the probe would look at the possible involvement of Telegram in letting such harmful content be distributed.
For this, authorities have been pushing Telegram and other social media to cooperate in fighting digital sex crimes that spread through deepfake sexually explicit content. This increasing digital manipulation often victimizes women who may suffer severe emotional and reputational harm.
Telegram’s Response: While the investigating authorities could not immediately reach Telegram for comment on the investigation, the company has earlier emphasized its commitment to taking down harmful content off its platform. It claimed proactive monitoring, sophisticated AI tools, and user reports were employed by its moderators to take down millions of pieces of harmful content daily, including illegal pornography.
Deepfake content raises concerns: The deepfake technology uses AI to create fake images and videos with a ‘life-like’ appearance, which has become one of the highly difficult propositions for law enforcement departments and social media platforms worldwide. In South Korea, this issue came into the limelight due to the local proliferation of these manipulated images in online chatrooms, spurring calls for stronger regulations and enforcement.
The continued investigation into Telegram by South Korean police makes quite clear the urgent actions that social media should take in regard to circulated harmful content, especially deepfakes. While authorities continue their probe, so much attention has been paid to the rights and privacy of people who became victims of this sort of digital malware.
