South Korea to Toughen Penalties for Deepfake-Related Sex Crimes
Seoul, August 29, 2024 – The South Koreangovernment is planning to strengthen penalties for sexual crimes involving deepfakes, a form of artificial intelligence (AI) technology that can create realistic-looking videos ofpeople performing actions they never actually did. The government is also pushing for a hotline with Telegram, a popular messaging app, to combat the spread of such content.
The announcement came from Kim Sang-hoon, chairman of the policy committee of the ruling People Power Party, who stated that the party and the government held a meeting at the National Assembly on August 29 to discuss preventive measures against deepfake-related sex crimes.
The proposed legislation aims to increase the maximum penalty for disseminating fake videos from five years to seven years. The government and the party also discussed establishing a reporting center on the Ministry of Education website and providing psychologicalcounseling and legal aid to victims.
The perpetrators who maliciously use deepfake technology and those who can curb such misconduct are all human, said Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, during his opening remarks. Therefore, we should address the issue from a social, legal, and institutional perspective.
The government has also decided to hold a collaborative meeting with Telegram’s operator to establish a regular consultation hotline. This initiative aims to encourage the company to take proactive measures in restricting illegal information on its platform.
Han Dong-hoon emphasized the need for a bipartisan agreement on lowering the age of criminal responsibility for juvenilesand imposing penalties on video creators, not just distributors, as deepfake-related sex crimes are increasingly involving teenagers.
We must seriously and swiftly investigate deepfake-related sex crimes, enhance our crime response capabilities, and simultaneously be mindful of avoiding excessive restrictions that could infringe on privacy, said Choo Kyung-ho,the party whip.
The move comes in response to a growing concern over the misuse of deepfake technology for malicious purposes, particularly in the realm of sexual exploitation. According to reports, over 2,100 people in South Korea have been victims of deepfake crimes in the past six years, with over30% of victims being minors.
The Korean Broadcasting Commission has also held an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures against deepfake pornography. The increasing prevalence of deepfake-generated sexually explicit content has sparked widespread fear and concern among the public.
The government’s proposed measures are expected to face scrutiny from various stakeholders, including privacy advocates and technology experts. While the aim is to protect individuals from the harmful effects of deepfake technology, it’s crucial to ensure that any legislation does not stifle innovation or infringe on legitimate uses of AI.
The South Korean government’s commitment to tackling deepfake-related sex crimes is a significantstep towards safeguarding individuals from this emerging threat. However, the effectiveness of these measures will depend on collaboration between government agencies, technology companies, and civil society organizations.
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