Telegram Says Sorry for Deepfake Porn Problem in South Korea
Telegram, the popular messaging app, apologized to South Korean authorities for handling deepfake pornography on its platform.
This comes as South Korea faces a growing crisis of digital sex crimes.
What Happened?
Telegram chat rooms, often run by teenagers, created and shared fake sexual videos of young women.
These videos, called “deepfakes,” use artificial intelligence to put real people’s faces on fake bodies.
Telegram’s Response
The company removed 25 videos as requested by South Korean officials.
Telegram also promised to work more closely with regulators to stop harmful videos.
The Bigger Picture
- Police received 118 reports of deepfake videos in just five days
- Seven suspects, including six teenagers, have been questioned
- Many victims were students and teachers known to the offenders
- Creating sexually explicit deepfakes in South Korea can lead to 5 years in prison and fines of up to 50 million won (about ₹31 lakh)
Government Action
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has ordered a thorough investigation into these digital sex crimes. The goal is to completely stop this type of abuse.
Not the First Time
In 2019, Telegram was used by a sex ring to blackmail women and children. The leader of that group was sentenced to 42 years in prison.
This latest scandal shows how technology can be misused to harm people, especially women and young girls. It raises serious questions about online safety and privacy.
