sabiz

Most of the digital sex crime-related videos are distributed not through Telegram, which was known for its deepfake sexual exploitation material, but rather through illegal overseas sites, including those used for illicit gambling and pornography. This finding highlights the urgent need to implement measures against illegal overseas sites, in addition to the efforts against Telegram.

According to data received by Rep. Lee Hoon-ki of the Democratic Party from the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) on the 4th, the KCSC issued 42,407 corrective requests for digital sex crime content from January to July of this year. Based on this trend, it is estimated that the total number of corrective requests for digital sex crime information will rise by about 6,000 cases from the previous year, reaching approximately 73,000 by the end of the year.

The digital sex crime materials are primarily circulated on illegal overseas sites or peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, often used for illegal gambling and pornography. Of the 42,407 corrective requests between January and July, 42,138 cases involved access restrictions on these overseas illegal sites or P2P networks, accounting for about 99% of the total. In contrast, Twitter and Telegram only had 188 and 78 cases, respectively. Domestically, only three cases of digital sex crime-related content were removed from Naver this year. This suggests that digital sex crime videos are being distributed on overseas sites to avoid domestic law enforcement.

Illegal sites and P2P networks primarily distribute "illegal filming" materials, i.e., sexually explicit videos made without the subject's consent. Of the 42,407 corrective requests, 35,865 were related to illegal filming, while 6,542 requests were for sexual falsified videos, including deepfake sexual exploitation materials. In 2022 and 2023, requests for corrective action regarding illegal videos totaled 51,202 and 59,217, respectively. Despite the 2020 "Nth Room" case, which led to a large-scale production and distribution of illegal filming materials, such content is still readily accessible.

The KCSC's efforts have largely been focused on regulating Telegram. KCSC Chairperson Ryu Hee-rim stated during a press conference on December 30 that the commission had held two face-to-face meetings to establish a practical cooperation system with Telegram. She added that Telegram promised to cooperate on a variety of illegal information, including deepfake sex crime videos, sex trafficking, drugs, and gambling, and would engage in proactive discussions with the police and KCSC.

It is pointed out that a fundamental solution to digital sex crimes requires a more active response to illegal overseas sites and illegal filming materials. Rep. Lee Hoon-ki remarked, "The distribution of deepfake sexual exploitation material on Telegram is just the tip of the iceberg," and emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy to protect citizens from digital sex crimes.