Telegram's bold apology for synthetic porn scandal

Telegram has issued an apology to South Korean authorities regarding its management of deepfake pornographic content that was circulated through its messaging app.

It comes as the country grapples with a concerning surge in digital sex crimes.

In a recent development, South Korean police have initiated an investigation into Telegram, alleging that the platform has been involved in facilitating the distribution of explicit images.

The announcement comes just days after the authorities made the accusation.

In the past few weeks, there has been a concerning discovery regarding numerous Telegram chatrooms, which teenagers primarily manage.

These chatrooms were found to be involved in the creation of sexually explicit "deepfakes" using manipulated images of young women.

According to authorities, Telegram has removed these videos from its platform.

Telegram expressed regret in a statement to South Korea's Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), acknowledging the situation's unfortunate nature and apologizing for any potential misunderstandings.

Also, it was confirmed that 25 videos were removed as requested by KCSC.

Telegram recently submitted a proposal to KCSC, suggesting the establishment of a dedicated email address for future communication with the regulatory body.

KCSC characterized the company's approach as "very forward-looking" and stated that Telegram had recognized the gravity of the situation.

Artificial intelligence is utilized to create deep fakes, which involve merging a genuine individual's face with a synthetic body.

South Korea has been rocked by a recent deepfake crisis that has sparked widespread outrage.

Journalists have uncovered a disturbing investigation into deep fake porn rings at two of the country's prominent universities, leaving the public shocked and appalled.

It was later revealed that the police had received 118 reports of similar videos within the past five days. In the past week, the police have questioned seven suspects, six teenagers.

These chat groups were found to be connected to various educational institutions nationwide. The perpetrators targeted individuals who were familiar to them, including students and teachers.

South Korea has strict penalties for individuals convicted of producing sexually explicit deepfakes.

Offenders can be imprisoned for a maximum of five years and fined up to 50 million won ($37,500; £28,300).

Recent findings in South Korea have come to light, coinciding with the apprehension of Pavel Durov, the Russian-born creator of Telegram, in France.

Durov faces accusations of facilitating illicit activities such as child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraud through his messaging application. Mr. Durov has been charged.

In a recent directive, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation and swift action to combat digital sex crimes. He aims to eliminate these offenses from society.

Women's rights activists have accused South Korean authorities of disregarding the occurrence of sexual abuse on Telegram.

In 2019, an alarming discovery was made regarding the use of an app by a sex ring. This despicable group had resorted to blackmailing numerous women and children, forcing them to participate in the creation of explicit content. Cho Ju-bin, the ring leader, was sentenced to 42 years in jail when he was just 20 years old.