South Korea launches investigation against Telegram

Tengrinews.kz - South Korean police have announced the launch of an investigation into Telegram on suspicion of "aiding" the distribution of pornographic deepfakes, including explicit images of minors created using artificial intelligence, citing France24.
The investigation was prompted by an increase in cases involving the use of fake identities in pornographic videos. The latest incident involved students creating an illegal chat on the popular social media platform, where they exchanged fake pornographic materials featuring their female classmates. These incidents have sparked widespread public outrage.

"In response to these crimes, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency launched an investigation last week into the alleged facilitation of criminal activities. Telegram did not respond to our previous requests for information on accounts during earlier investigations related to the platform," said Woo Jong-su, head of the Investigation Bureau of the National Police Agency.

Woo Jong-su added that police received 88 reports of deepfake pornography just last week, and they have identified 24 suspects. The investigation into Telegram follows the recent arrest of Telegram's founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, in France last month.
The 39-year-old Durov faces multiple charges related to the failure to curb the spread of extremist and illegal content on the popular messaging app.
South Korean police have vowed to "find ways to cooperate with various investigative agencies, including those in France, to enhance" the investigation into the platform's activities.