Recently, South Korean authorities have noticed a rise in sex crimes, distributing nonconsensual content by superimposing women’s faces to explicit materials. Disturbingly, the victims were none other than the perpetrators’ close friends and family.
This alarming trend has drawn significant attention, especially as reports suggest that many who create these deepfake images are teenagers.
Yesterday, investigators discovered a large group chat generating and distributing sexual exploitation materials using deepfake technology on platforms like Telegram, as well as online communities and social media. Some offenders participated in a group known as “overlapping acquaintances,” where they shared information about women they knew in person.
The individuals creating these deepfake videos used photos of victims taken without consent from social media. They even had specific guidelines for producing these sexual exploitation materials.
Surprisingly, both the victims and perpetrators of deepfake video crimes are predominantly teenagers. Currently, social media is sharing the lists of affected schools. The list reportedly contains hundreds of names, covering nationwide education institutions. However, it remains unclear whether students from these schools are actual victims.
A post on an online parent forum revealed a chat group where members share photos and personal information of female relatives. According to the post, around 2,000 people participated in the Telegram group and shared pictures and personal details.
Actual screenshots from the Telegram group show participants posting family photos and engaging in sexual harassment. Some shared videos titled “Sister Sleeping” and expressed regret over not having “lifted her underwear.” This reveals a disturbing extent of the perpetrators.
Many parents voiced their anxiety, questioning whether they should control the phone usage of their children. They worry that both victims and perpetrators could be among their kids. They also argue that it’s essential to have proper sexual education for their children.
A former emergency committee chair of the Democratic Party, Park Ji Hyun, emphasized that the growing concern over deepfake crimes calls for a national disaster declaration. She was also in charge of bringing the infamous “Nth room” case to light in 2020.
She stated, “The common advice, ‘take down your photos from social media,’ is not a solution. Illegal filming and the use of graduation album photos can lead to various sexual crimes. Anyone can become a victim of digital sexual crimes.”
Park noted, “These incidents are happening in middle and high schools and universities across the country, with the number of offenders reaching 220,000. This is a national disaster situation. The government must eradicate the roots of digital sexual crimes.”
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