South Korea Launches First Investigation into Telegram Over Deepfake Crimes

Authorities in South Korea are investigating Telegram for its alleged role in enabling deepfake crimes. According to the Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police have begun a preliminary investigation into the platform

South Korean authorities have launched an investigation into Telegram, focusing on its role in enabling deepfake sex crimes. This marks the first time that South Korea has targeted Telegram's corporate entity in such a probe.

The investigation, led by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, is centered on illicit content being shared through the messaging app. Officials are examining charges that Telegram has abetted these crimes by failing to adequately moderate such content.

According to Yonhap News, the probe was partly prompted by concerns over Telegram's lack of cooperation in sharing user information with authorities. This issue has also been encountered by other countries investigating the platform.

To overcome this challenge, South Korean police are planning to collaborate with international investigators, including those from France, which began its own inquiry into Telegram earlier this year.

Notably, Telegram has faced legal challenges in France over its failure to provide account data, even to U.S. authorities. This lack of cooperation has made investigations into the platform more difficult.

In response to the investigation, Telegram has complied with South Korea's request to remove illicit content. As reported by Yonhap News, the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) stated that Telegram's East Asia division took down 25 pieces of deepfake pornography.

Furthermore, Telegram apologized for the delay in communication and agreed to work more closely with South Korean authorities.

The KCSC also requested that Telegram establish a direct hotline with South Korean authorities to expedite the removal of future illicit content. While this marks a step forward, authorities remain cautious about the platform's overall cooperation in the long term.

The investigation into Telegram comes amid a broader global trend of scrutinizing the platform's content moderation practices. Following the August 24 arrest of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov by French authorities over charges related to enabling illegal activities on the platform, several countries have launched investigations.

In India, where Telegram boasts over 100 million users, authorities began probing the messaging app after Durov's arrest. Meanwhile, Indonesia, another major Telegram market, is considering blocking the app over concerns about its failure to effectively moderate content.

It's worth noting that Telegram is not a major player in South Korea's messaging app market. As of April 2024, it had three million monthly active users in the country. In contrast, the top messaging app, KakaoTalk, has a user base that covers 95% of South Korea's population. Instagram is the second most-used app, with 25% of respondents preferring it.

Despite its smaller user base in South Korea, Telegram is facing increasing pressure to comply with local laws. The ongoing collaboration between South Korean and French authorities is likely to lead to further scrutiny on Telegram's content moderation in the future.

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