South Korea has announced a series of measures aimed at addressing the increasing prevalence of deepfake porn within the country. The government plans to implement stricter punishments for offenders, enhance the use of undercover officers, and impose tighter regulations on social media platforms.
The issue of nonconsensual explicit videos that have been digitally altered has become a growing concern in South Korea, particularly following the circulation of unverified lists of schools with victims in August. In response, many girls and women have taken steps to remove photos and videos from their social media accounts, while others have called for stronger action against deepfake porn through rallies.
President Yoon Suk Yeol has acknowledged the rapid spread of explicit deepfake content and has instructed officials to crack down on these digital sexual crimes. As part of a seven-month special operation that will run until March 2025, the police are actively working to combat the issue.
A task force has revealed that the government is collaborating with lawmakers to revise laws in order to increase penalties for individuals involved in deepfake porn-related offenses. Recent amendments have made it illegal to watch or possess deepfake porn, with violators facing up to three years in prison. The maximum sentence for those producing or distributing such content has been raised from five to seven years.
Police have already apprehended 506 suspects this year, with a significant number of them being between the ages of 10 and 19. The task force is advocating for expanded undercover online investigations, even in cases involving adult victims, and is seeking to enable authorities to seize profits generated from deepfake porn businesses.
Furthermore, the task force aims to enforce fines more rigorously on social media platforms that fail to prevent the dissemination of illegal content. South Korea plans to increase monitoring on these platforms from 12 to 26. Additionally, mandatory educational programs on digital sex crimes will be expanded in schools, and public awareness videos featuring popular celebrities among young demographics will be produced.
Most of the suspected perpetrators in deepfake porn cases in South Korea are teenage boys, who often target female acquaintances, friends, and relatives, many of whom are minors. This trend has not only raised concerns about school programs but has also exacerbated existing gender divides within the country.
Experts attribute the prevalence of deepfake porn in South Korea to various factors, including widespread smartphone usage, inadequate sex education in schools, insufficient social media regulations for minors, and deep-rooted misogyny and societal norms that objectify women.
