South Korea‘s police have launched an investigation into Telegram, following France‘s example, over crimes related to deepfakes of a sexual nature, according to Yonhap news agency, citing the police.
“Just like in France, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has launched a preliminary investigation into Telegram… The suspicions are related to aiding and abetting crimes, specifically the distribution of fake videos and other offenses,” said National Police Agency Commissioner, Woo Jong-soo.
Meanwhile, the police acknowledged the difficulties in conducting the investigation, as Telegram does not provide them with user account information. “This doesn’t mean we haven’t caught any criminals using Telegram; we have our own investigation methods, and we’re doing everything possible,” a police official said.
This is the first time the South Korean police have launched an investigation into Telegram. Against the backdrop of growing international concerns over crimes committed through Telegram, the South Korean government has also expressed its determination to actively investigate similar cases in the country.
The police are currently conducting a preliminary investigation into eight Telegram bots that automatically generate deepfake content of a sexual nature, and are examining group chats on Telegram where such materials are distributed. The possibility of charging the creators of deepfake bots with complicity and abetting is also being considered.
According to the police, between August 26 and 29, 88 reports were filed related to sexual crimes involving deepfakes, which led to the identification of 24 suspects.
