In a significant move toward content moderation, Telegram recently removed 25 videos flagged by the South Korean government for containing sexually exploitative material, including deepfake content. The South Korea Communications Standards Commission reported that, after a period of strained communication, Telegram’s administrators issued an apology and expressed a desire to foster trust with South Korean regulators. This action marks a shift for Telegram, which has previously been criticized for its lack of responsiveness to complaints regarding illegal and harmful content, particularly by nonprofit groups like the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which had noted Telegram’s limited engagement with such issues.
South Korea’s government is now working to formalize its relationship with Telegram by establishing a direct communication channel to ensure faster response times for content-related emergencies. The regulator’s complaints align with those raised internationally, as questions about platform accountability, content moderation, and user safety continue to surround Telegram, particularly after the recent arrest of its CEO, Pavel Durov, in France. French authorities charged Durov with failing to cooperate in police investigations and aiding in the spread of illegal content. Although he has since been released on bail, this legal action underscores the mounting pressure on Telegram to address the misuse of its platform.
In South Korea, concerns around deepfake technology have escalated, prompting police and regulatory agencies to respond aggressively to cases of synthetic media being weaponized to exploit women and minors. Since late August, South Korean authorities received 88 public complaints about deepfake sexual content on Telegram, identifying 24 suspects involved in creating and disseminating such videos. As part of a broader crackdown, South Korean police have detained over 400 individuals since 2021 on charges related to illegal deepfake pornography, though only a minority have been formally arrested.
As Telegram navigates increased scrutiny, it faces growing international demand for accountability from authorities concerned with public safety and cybercrime. In response, Telegram has stated its commitment to adhering to EU laws and defended its content moderation practices as industry-standard, rejecting claims that platforms or their owners should be held liable for user-generated abuse. However, South Korean regulators remain determined to enforce stricter oversight, highlighting the need for social media platforms to cooperate with law enforcement in addressing the rising challenges of AI-driven synthetic media and cyber exploitation.
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