The streets of Seoul once again echoed with the anger of South Korean women demanding an end to sexual abuse, this time focused on the rampant spread of deepfake pornography. Having previously battled the invasion of spy cams, known as molka, the nation now faces a new and disturbing threat to women’s safety and dignity.
Juhee Jin, a 26-year-old advocate for women’s rights, expressed her frustration, saying, “This should have been addressed a long time ago. I hope that authorities take precautions and provide proper education so that people can prevent these crimes from happening.” The National Police Agency recently announced that it is investigating 513 cases of deepfake pornography, highlighting a 70% increase in just 40 days. This alarming statistic underlines South Korea’s ongoing struggle to control the use of digital technology for the sexual exploitation of women and girls.
The troubling rise of deepfake porn has led to a period of introspection in a country known for its significant contributions to global pop culture, which is now being overshadowed by its reputation as a hub for digital sex crimes. Reports indicate that South Korea may reach a record high in cases of deepfake porn by the year’s end, with numbers having steadily increased from 156 in 2021 to 180 in 2023.
The victims of this abuse are primarily young women and girls, including students, teachers, and soldiers. Alarmingly, nearly two-thirds of the victims last year were teenagers, and the perpetrators are frequently minors themselves. Yonhap news agency reported that teenagers accounted for 79% of those detained in the first nine months of this year, adding another layer of complexity to the issue.
The sheer magnitude of the problem is shocking to many in South Korea. A notorious Telegram chatroom used for creating and distributing deepfake pornography reportedly had 220,000 members, with another chatroom boasting over 400,000 users. These platforms often incite participants to humiliate and degrade women through deepfakes.
Several years after South Korea garnered international attention due to the molka scandal, the government is again under pressure to eradicate this new wave of online sexual crimes. A significant protest is planned in Seoul on September 21 to address the issue.
South Korea is unfortunately labeled as the global center for deepfake pornography. According to a 2023 report by Security Hero, a US-based startup focused on identity theft protection, 53% of individuals featured in deepfakes worldwide are South Korean female celebrities. In response, South Korean police have begun investigating Telegram, and the country’s media regulator is planning talks with the app’s representatives to devise a joint approach to the problem. Additionally, the education ministry has launched a task force to address incidents at schools, teach children image protection skills, and support victims.
John McGuire, a philosophy professor at Hanyang University, argued that digital ethics education alone is insufficient to tackle AI-related issues, asserting, “South Korea has just emerged as a test case for this challenge. We are going to need every tool at our disposal to address the present and future problems associated with AI technology.” Meanwhile, Telegram founder was recently arrested in France for child sexual abuse, apologized for any misunderstandings, and claimed to have removed numerous videos at the media watchdog’s request.
Campaigners remain skeptical, believing these measures will not suffice to curb the demand for digitally altered explicit content. South Korea’s fast internet and high smartphone usage rates, combined with Telegram’s popularity and lax laws, exacerbate the problem. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo attributed the crisis to the “abnormal development” of social media and AI, rather than governmental shortcomings.
Authorities have been cognizant of the digital manipulation threat since 2019’s “nth room” case, where women and underage girls were coerced into creating sexually explicit videos circulated online. Although police appealed to Telegram for cooperation, their requests were ignored. The ringleader received a prison sentence exceeding 40 years, but Telegram faced no repercussions due to censorship concerns.
Heather Barr from Human Rights Watch highlighted the lack of seriousness with which South Korean judges, prosecutors, police, and lawmakers—predominantly men—address these crimes. Victims seeking help often encounter dismissal, re-traumatization, or ridicule. South Korean schools provide minimal sexuality education, leaving young people unprepared to understand the gravity of such conduct.
As politicians and authorities scramble for solutions, public outrage has spurred numerous petitions demanding stricter laws. Online behavior has also shifted, with many children withdrawing from social media to protect their images. One adult victim recounted the trauma of prosecuting her assailant, a fellow student, saying, “The world I knew completely collapsed…No one should be treated as an object or used as a means to compensate for the inferiority complexes of individuals like the defendant, simply because they are women.”
President Yoon Suk Yeol has called for the eradication of deepfake crimes, emphasizing that such acts, often dismissed as pranks, are serious criminal offenses. Over 80 women’s rights groups have criticized the official response, attributing the crisis to entrenched gender discrimination. They assert that true resolution lies in achieving gender equality, not suppressing women’s self-expression online. K-pop agencies, whose stars are victims, have also condemned deepfake pornography as blatant legal violations.
The deepfake phenomenon has significantly impacted South Korean schools, with students and teachers alike experiencing fear and anxiety over potential exploitation. The Korean Federation of Teachers union reports that even those not directly affected are living in a state of heightened vigilance and stress.
In a nation celebrated for its cultural and technological advancements, South Korea continues to grapple with the dark side of digital innovation. Despite various measures and public outcry, the fight against deepfake pornography remains an uphill battle, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive education, stricter laws, and a transformative approach to gender equality.
Source: Theguardian