The platform is accused of “encouraging” the distribution of child pornography deepfakes by not collaborating with the South Korean authorities.
South Korean police announced Monday that they have opened an investigation into the messaging service Telegram, which they accuse of “encouraging” the distribution of fake pornographic content, notably using the images of minors.
This content, “deepfake porn”, is pornographic montages generated with artificial intelligence in which the faces of individuals are placed on photos or in sexual videos.
“Telegram has not responded to our previous requests for account information (of users) during previous investigations into Telegram-related crimes,” said National Police Investigation Bureau chief Woo Jong-soo.
“In light of these crimes, the Seoul National Police Agency opened its investigation last week (…) for abetting these crimes,” Woo added during a press conference, a transcript of which was obtained by AFP.
Victims often minors
Police received 88 reports over the past week and identified 24 suspects, he said. The creators of such illegal content often glean photos of their victims from social media. Police said most of the victims are girls, 60 percent of them minors.
Online crime is rife in South Korea, activists say, including the use of spy cameras and the posting of “revenge porn” (private pornographic content shared without consent to get revenge).
In late August, South Korean media outlet Hankyoreh reported that university students were running a Telegram chat group that circulated “deepfake porn” of their female classmates, a story that sparked widespread public outrage.
The investigation opened by the Seoul police comes after the arrest on August 28 in France of the boss of Telegram, Pavel Durov. After four days in police custody, the billionaire was released, but he is under investigation and subject to heavy judicial control including a ban on leaving French territory.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, he is being charged in particular with “refusing to communicate information necessary for interceptions authorized by law” and complicity in organized crimes and offenses via the platform.
South Korean police have pledged to cooperate with “various investigative agencies, including France,” Woo said.
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