South Korea Urgently Tackles Online Deep Fake Crisis

In South Korea, an alarming increase in online chat rooms sharing sexually explicit deep fake images of women has drawn urgent responses from authorities. Prominent on platforms like Telegram, these images - utilizing artificial intelligence to merge real faces with fake bodies - have sparked public outrage and led to emergency meetings called by the government. Following local media reports, President Yoon Suk-yeol has emphasized the need for thorough investigations into digital sex crimes, particularly focusing on cases involving underage victims. One particular Telegram chat room reportedly boasted 227,000 users, showcasing the significant scale of this issue. Activists have pointed out that South Korea, while possessing one of the fastest internet speeds globally, is grappling with an epidemic of digital sex crimes, including the spread of revenge porn and spy camera incidents. Experts note that investigative measures and legislative efforts currently remain insufficient to address this growing threat. Notably, this year has seen a doubling of deep fake cases compared to previous data collected in 2021. Most troubling is the fact that many offenders involved are believed to be minors themselves, leading to deeper concerns regarding the implications for both victims and perpetrators in this digital crisis. The ongoing investigation into Telegram's founder amid international scrutiny ties into this broader narrative of urgency faced by South Korean authorities in combating these tech-driven crimes.