Telegram has formally apologized to South Korean authorities for its handling of deepfake pornographic content that has been circulating on its platform.
This comes as South Korea grapples with a rising epidemic of digital sex crimes.
The apology follows an investigation launched by South Korean police, accusing Telegram of facilitating the distribution of explicit deepfake videos. These videos, often created using artificial intelligence to superimpose real faces onto fake bodies, have been shared in numerous Telegram chatrooms, some allegedly operated by teenagers.
In a statement to South Korea’s Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), Telegram expressed regret over the situation, calling it “unfortunate” and apologized for any misunderstandings. The company also confirmed the removal of 25 videos at the KCSC’s request and proposed establishing a dedicated email channel for future communication with the regulator.
The KCSC described Telegram’s response as “proactive” and acknowledged the company’s recognition of the gravity of the issue.
The controversy has sparked widespread outrage in South Korea, with investigations uncovering deepfake porn rings at two major universities. In just five days, police received 118 reports related to such videos, and seven suspects, six of them teenagers, have been questioned.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has urged authorities to thoroughly investigate and address these digital sex crimes, emphasizing the need for eradication. Under the country’s laws, those found guilty of creating sexually explicit deepfakes face up to five years in prison and fines of up to 50 million won.
This incident comes on the heels of the recent arrest of Telegram’s Russian-born founder, Pavel Durov, in France on allegations related to child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraud on the platform.
As the investigation continues, women’s rights activists have criticized South Korean authorities for allowing sexual abuse to persist on Telegram, drawing parallels to a 2019 incident in which a Telegram-based sex ring blackmailed numerous women and children.
