Recently, there have been cases of deepfake technology being used for sexual crimes by an unspecified number of people in Korea. Moreover, on the messenger service Telegram, the users even categorized victims by their university. Pharos will find out about this situation and examine the opinions of both Korean and foreign exchange students.

 This is a sexual crime that synthesizes the faces of acquaintances or family into pornography using deepfake technology and distributes them through an app called Telegram. The assailants mainly created, distributed, and traded pornography, dividing the victims into their regions and schools. The crimes began in 2020 and it was exposed to the public in August 2024. As a result, various sectors of society, including education, entertainment, labor, and legal circles, began to come up with an appropriate plan to handle the crimes, and a related bill called the ‘Deepfake Punishment Act’ was created.

 The issue of deepfake technology being used for sexual harassment is not limited to Korea. Many other countries have experienced similar crimes, where manipulated images or videos are created to exploit or harm individuals. In the United States, for example, deepfake pornography has targeted celebrities and private individuals alike, leading to widespread public outrage. In the United States, public figures—particularly celebrities, influencers, and politicians—have historically been the primary targets of deepfake pornography and videos. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, cases of non-consensual deepfake videos have been reported, resulting in growing demands for legal intervention. In response, these countries have begun implementing laws to combat such crimes. The United States has taken steps with certain states criminalizing the use of deepfakes for non-consensual pornography. The United Kingdom has also introduced legislation aimed at addressing image-based sexual abuse, with penalties for offenders. The new law will mean that if someone creates a sexually explicit deepfake, even if they have no intent to share it but purely want to cause alarm, humiliation, or distress to the victim, they will be committing a criminal offense. However, enforcement remains challenging due to the rapid development of the technology and the anonymous nature of platforms where these videos are shared, such as Telegram. This creates a global problem that requires a more robust and coordinated legal response to effectively curb the abuse.

Interview

Do you know about the sexual crimes using deepfakes through Telegram?

Lee: Yes.

Nicolai: Yes.

If so, please briefly explain what you know about the problem.

Lee: It is abusing a family member or acquaintance by synthesizing the person’s face or body with AI technology and distributing it with an app called Telegram.

Nicolai: It is using someone else’s identity or face to commit a crime.

How are you aware of these crimes?

Lee: SNS and articles.

Nicolai: I'm very aware.

How severe do you think this issue is?

Lee: The number of victims continues to rise and I think it is also a serious problem that continues to occur.

Nicolai: Not sure

What do you think should be done to prevent these crimes from occuring again?

Lee: It seems that a punishment of a very strong sentence should be imposed on the producers and distributors.

Nicolai: I guess trying not to post any photos on any media is the only way to prevent it completely.

Do you have similar issues with deepfakes in your country? (Foreign exchange students only.)

Nicolai: We have a bit, but it is rare. I have had a friend that got contacted on Instagram by someone who tried to black mail him with ‘fake’ nude photos.

Do you have any experience using deepfake technology?

Lee: No.

Nicolai: I don’t have any experience, but I see more and more advertisements where you can use it.

Do you have any experience of being targeted as a victim using deepfake technology?

Lee: No.

Nicolai: Not myself personally, no.

 As deepfake technology continues to evolve, so do the risks of its misuse. Sexual crimes involving deepfakes should not be allowed to become a normalized or persistent issue. To prevent future harm, governments must establish stricter laws and ensure better enforcement to protect individuals from being exploited. In addition to legal measures, platforms like Telegram need to be held accountable for the content they allow to be shared. Moreover, raising awareness of the emotional and psychological damage these crimes cause is essential. Educational campaigns, both within universities and more broadly, can help combat the normalization of such behavior and encourage a culture of respect and responsibility in the digital space. With collaborative efforts from governments, tech companies, and society as a whole, these heinous acts can be curbed, ensuring a safer future for all.

Media Management Editor • CHO SEO YUN • jeoyum@gmail.com 

International Reporter • ZEGHLACHE MAËL • maelzeghlache@gmail.com