South Korea probes Telegram over deepfake allegations

South Korea has joined a growing list of countries investigating Telegram Messenger for its alleged role in the dissemination of illicit content, particularly deepfake pornography.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has initiated a preliminary investigation into Telegram's corporate entity on allegations of "abetting deepfake sex crimes," according to a September 3 report by Yonhap News Agency.

Woo Jong-soo, head of South Korea’s National Office of Investigation, confirmed that the investigation began as an internal inquiry before being formally opened.

South Korea is following France's example, which initiated its own investigation into Telegram earlier this year.

"The charges are about abetting this crime," Woo stated.

The investigation faces potential hurdles due to Telegram's refusal to share account information or other investigation data with South Korean authorities.

To overcome these challenges, South Korea plans to collaborate with French investigators and other international partners.

This marks the first time South Korean authorities have launched an inquiry into Telegram’s corporate entity.

The investigation follows President Yoon Suk Yeol's call in August for local authorities to address and eliminate online sex crimes.

This issue gained prominence when a local investigation uncovered a Telegram group with 1,200 members sharing computer-generated sexualised images and personal information.

In response to South Korea's concerns, Telegram has shown some compliance.

The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) reported that Telegram's East Asia division removed 25 pieces of illicit material at the KCSC’s request.

Telegram has also apologised for miscommunication regarding the incident and is reportedly considering establishing a hotline with South Korean authorities to address such issues more efficiently.

Globally, several jurisdictions have launched probes against Telegram following the arrest of its founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, by French authorities on August 24.

Durov has been charged with multiple criminal offenses, including facilitating illicit activities and the dissemination of child pornography.

Other countries, such as India and Indonesia, have also initiated investigations or considered blocking Telegram due to content moderation issues.

The European Union is investigating whether Telegram provided false data on its user numbers within the bloc.

With South Korea now joining the international crackdown on Telegram, the platform faces increasing scrutiny over its role in moderating content and preventing the spread of illegal material.