YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — South Korean police have began an investigation into Telegram, becoming a member of different world authorities trying into the platform’s position in spreading unlawful content material. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Company is main the probe, specializing in deepfake intercourse crimes shared by the messaging app. This investigation follows issues over Telegram’s lack of moderation on such content material.
South Korea Launches First Investigation into Telegram Over Deepfake Crimes
Authorities in South Korea are investigating Telegram for its alleged position in enabling deepfake crimes. In response to the Yonhap Information Company, the Seoul Metropolitan Police have begun a preliminary investigation into the platform, accusing it of not doing sufficient to cease the unfold of illicit content material. Woo Jong-soo, head of the Nationwide Workplace of Investigation, confirmed that this marks the primary time South Korea has focused Telegram’s company entity.
Woo stated the investigation is trying into expenses that Telegram has abetted deepfake intercourse crimes. The investigation was partly impressed by France, which started its personal inquiry into Telegram earlier this yr. Nevertheless, Woo talked about the issue in getting consumer account info from Telegram, a problem additionally confronted by authorities in different international locations.
South Korea Joins Forces with France in Telegram Investigation
Because of Telegram’s lack of cooperation in sharing consumer info, South Korean police are planning to work with worldwide investigators, together with these from France. Woo famous that Telegram has a historical past of not offering account knowledge, even to U.S. authorities. He burdened that this makes the investigation extra difficult however added that collaborating with different international locations might assist.
France has already launched its personal investigation into Telegram, and South Korean authorities hope that sharing info with them may make the method smoother. The joint effort is predicted to assist overcome the challenges of investigating a world platform like Telegram.
Removing of Illicit Content material After Investigation
In response to the continued investigation, Telegram has complied with South Korea’s request to take away illicit content material. In response to Yonhap Information, the Korea Communications Requirements Fee (KCSC) reported that Telegram’s East Asia division took down 25 items of deepfake pornography. Telegram additionally apologized for the delay in communication and agreed to work with South Korean authorities extra carefully.
The KCSC additionally requested Telegram to ascertain a direct hotline with South Korean authorities to hurry up the elimination of future illicit content material. Whereas that is seen as a step ahead, authorities are nonetheless cautious concerning the platform’s total cooperation in the long run.
International Crackdown Intensifies Following CEO’s Arrest
South Korea’s investigation is a part of a wider world development focusing on Telegram for its content material moderation practices. On August 24, French authorities arrested Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov. They’re charging him with enabling unlawful actions on the platform. This sparked investigations in different international locations.
India, the place Telegram has over 100 million customers, launched its personal probe following Durov’s arrest. Indonesia, one other main Telegram market, is contemplating blocking the app on account of issues over its failure to reasonable content material successfully. These investigations present that international locations are more and more holding Telegram accountable for unlawful content material shared on its platform.
Telegram Faces Strain in South Korea Amid Dominance of KakaoTalk and Instagram
Telegram isn’t a significant participant in South Korea’s messaging app market. In reality, as of April 2024, it had three million month-to-month lively customers within the nation. In distinction, the highest messaging app, KakaoTalk, has a consumer base overlaying 95% of South Korea’s inhabitants. Instagram is the second most-used app, with 25% of respondents preferring it.
Regardless of its smaller consumer base in South Korea, Telegram is underneath rising strain to adjust to native legal guidelines. Above all, the continued collaboration between South Korean and French authorities might result in extra scrutiny on Telegram’s content material moderation sooner or later.