South Korea is currently conducting an inquiry into Telegram.
South Korean officials are pushing digital platforms to curb the dissemination of explicit content, yet Telegram seems unwilling to cooperate. Reports suggest that Seoul is conducting investigations regarding Telegram's potential involvement in facilitating online sexual misdeeds.
In the wake of CEO Pavel Durov's arrest in France, Telegram appears to be in hot water once more. According to Yonhap, South Korea's news agency, the nation's investigative agency head has initiated investigations into whether Telegram has aided such transgressions.
The online division of the investigation agency declined to issue a statement, while Telegram remained silent on the matter. The investigations revolve around the proliferation of deepfakes, which is where AI-generated pornographic images featuring prominent women are shared online. This concern has been raised frequently, with Security Hero revealing that almost 50% of global explicit deepfake victims in 2023 were South Korean entertainers.
As per South Korean police, 297 cases of such criminal activity have been reported in 2024, a significant increase from the 149 instances reported in 2021. Additionally, over 6,300 requests for the removal of these deepfakes have been made to the authorities. Notably, both the victims and perpetrators are predominantly minors. To combat this issue, the Seoul administration intends to strengthen laws and eventually make the possession and viewing of such deepfakes unlawful.
Telegram Resists Crackdown on Crimes
South Korean authorities have asked platforms to limit the dissemination of such content and remove related images. A new committee will be established to enhance dialogue with social media operators. Additionally, the media oversight body has petitioned its French counterparts for regular cooperation in the Telegram case.
Telegram is widely known as the primary platform for spreading such content and has shown resistance in tackling criminal activities. France has initiated formal investigations against Durov due to Telegram's refusal to share user data with law enforcement. Consequently, Durov had to put up a substantial bail and is currently prohibited from leaving France.
Despite the global push against the distribution of explicit content on social networks, Telegram continues to be a challenge. The platform's unwillingness to cooperate with South Korean officials in their investigations into Telegram's potential involvement in facilitating online sexual misdeeds is causing concern.
Furthermore, the committee aiming to enhance dialogue with social media operators finds it challenging to persuade Telegram to comply with the request to limit the dissemination of such content on their platform.
