In recent years, the rise of illegal synthetic material (deepfake) sexual crimes has become a concerning issue in South Korea. With incidents of such crimes involving universities and schools coming to light, it has been discovered that criminals are targeting victims known to them through personal connections and creating and distributing illegal synthetic materials online. This alarming trend has spread widely across various online platforms, including Telegram, where individuals gather in channels to share and produce these harmful materials.
One particular Telegram channel, with over 1300 participants, is divided into individual chat rooms categorized by 70 different universities nationwide. Participants in these channels post personal information about acquaintances, such as their department, student ID, and name, in order to identify mutual connections and then move to separate chat rooms to create and share illegal synthetic materials. Additionally, if a significant amount of material is produced for a specific individual, a private chat room with that person’s name may be created for further dissemination.
The distribution of these illegal materials is systematic and horrifying. The created sexual crime materials are repeatedly circulated within chat rooms, sometimes even being used in a joking manner with emojis. Furthermore, in a channel with 3700 participants known as the „link sharing channel,“ links to private chat rooms containing specific individuals‘ illegal materials and channels dedicated to illegal materials of particular female universities were shared. There were even rooms where individuals had to send ten photos of a mutual acquaintance to gain entry.
Even more disturbing is the existence of a Telegram channel targeting high school students, with over 2340 participants. In this channel, illegal synthetic materials involving minors were continuously produced and distributed, posing a serious threat to the safety and well-being of these young individuals.
As these illegal synthetic material sexual crimes continue to expand indiscriminately and become more localized, the fear among women has escalated. Many individuals, like 24-year-old G, who enjoy using social networking services, expressed their concerns about the potential misuse of their photos for criminal activities. The lack of control over where and how their images are being shared has left many feeling vulnerable and anxious.
The challenges in combating these crimes are further compounded by the fact that the illegal materials are disseminated through Telegram servers located overseas, making it difficult for domestic authorities to take action. Legal experts have called for amendments to telecommunications laws to compel overseas entities with branches in Korea to cooperate with investigations and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.
In conclusion, the proliferation of illegal synthetic material sexual crimes on platforms like Telegram is a grave issue that requires immediate attention and action. It is essential for law enforcement agencies to adopt a more proactive approach in investigating and prosecuting these crimes to protect the safety and privacy of individuals, especially minors, who are vulnerable to such exploitation. Additionally, there is a need for stronger legal measures and penalties to deter individuals from engaging in the production and distribution of illegal synthetic materials. Only through collaborative efforts between authorities, tech companies, and the community can we effectively combat this growing threat and safeguard the well-being of all individuals.