South Korea launching investigation into Telegram over distribution of deepfake pornos

The South Korean police have opened a preliminary investigation into Telegram. The authorities suspect that the instant messaging service platform is complicit in the distribution of deepfake porn in the country.

“The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency launched an internal investigation into the corporate entity of Telegram before officially booking it. The charges are about abetting this crime,” head of the National Office of Investigation in South Korea Woo Jong-soo tells the Yonhap News Agency.

Woo acknowledges that the investigation will be challenging, because Telegram does not simply provide personal information of its users to law enforcement agencies. To be more successful, the South Korean police plan to collaborate with the French police and other international institutions.

Deepfake pornography causes many casualties in South Korea, especially among young women and teenagers. Last week, the police received 88 reports of deepfake porn videos that were distributed via Telegram. Police officers were able to identify 24 individuals as suspects so far.

Anyone who wants to have a deepfake video removed, must contact the creator or the person who put the video online. If they refuse to take action, you can ask the owner or administrator of the site to remove the video. If that does not work either, victims can file a complaint with the data protection authority (DPA).

Lastly, victims can file a report with the police. Anyone who suffers damage because a deepfake is online can go to court and claim compensation.

Telegram made headlines several times in recent weeks. Pavel Durov, CEO and co-founder of Telegram, was arrested in France at the end of August. He is said to have failed to cooperate with previous investigations into cybercrime and financial fraud on the instant messaging platform.

President Emmanuel Macron said the arrest of Durov took place on French soil as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. “It is in no wat a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter,” he stated on X.

Durov is no longer in custody, but he’s not allowed to leave France.