Telegram Issues Apology Over Deepfake Porn Scandal in South Korea

Telegram has issued an apology to South Korean authorities for its inadequate handling of deepfake pornographic content shared on its platform, amidst a growing digital sex crime crisis in the country. The apology follows an investigation launched by South Korean police, who accused the messaging app of “abetting” the distribution of these explicit images.

In recent weeks, numerous Telegram chatrooms—many operated by teenagers—were discovered creating and sharing deepfake pornographic videos, which involve AI-generated images that often combine a real person’s face with a fake body. The situation has sparked widespread outrage, especially after police revealed investigations into deepfake porn rings at two major South Korean universities.

Telegram has since removed the offending content from its platform. In a statement to South Korea’s Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), the company expressed regret over the “unfortunate” situation and apologized for any “misunderstanding.” They confirmed the removal of 25 such videos as requested by the KCSC and proposed a dedicated email address for ongoing communication with the regulator.

The KCSC praised Telegram’s response, describing it as “very forward-looking” and acknowledging that the company has recognized the seriousness of the issue.

The deepfake scandal has highlighted the increasing threat of digital sex crimes in South Korea, where the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes can result in up to five years of imprisonment and fines of up to 50 million won ($37,500; £28,300). Over the past week, police have received 118 reports related to deepfake videos, questioning seven suspects, six of whom are teenagers. The victims of these crimes were often students and teachers known to the perpetrators, linking the chat groups to individual schools and universities across the country.