Telegram apologises for deepfake porn scandal in South Korea

Telegram has faced backlash in South Korea for its role in the distribution of deepfake pornographic material, leading to an investigation by local police. The scandal emerged as numerous chatrooms on the platform were discovered to be creating explicit deepfakes using altered images of young women, many of whom were students and teachers. In response to the growing outrage, Telegram has removed 25 videos as requested by the South Korean Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) and issued an apology for any misunderstandings regarding its handling of the situation. The deepfake crisis has intensified scrutiny on Telegram, especially after reports surfaced of police investigating deepfake porn rings at major universities. In just five days, authorities received 118 reports related to such videos, prompting the questioning of seven suspects, including six teenagers. The chat groups involved were linked to specific educational institutions, highlighting the alarming trend of digital sex crimes among youth. In South Korea, the legal repercussions for creating sexually explicit deepfakes are severe, with offenders facing up to five years in prison and hefty fines. This situation has drawn criticism from women's rights activists, who argue that authorities have not done enough to prevent sexual abuse facilitated by the platform. The case has gained further attention following the arrest of Telegram's founder, Pavel Durov, in France on unrelated charges, raising concerns about the app's safety and governance. President Yoon Suk Yeol has called for a thorough investigation into these digital sex crimes, emphasizing the need for effective measures to eradicate such offenses. The KCSC has acknowledged Telegram's proactive approach in addressing the issue, but the ongoing crisis reflects broader societal challenges regarding digital privacy and the exploitation of technology for malicious purposes.