Rising Deepfake Crimes... "Reopened After the Aftermath of the Baksa Bang Case"

"New Materials Uploaded Daily"
Enter Deepfake Paid Rooms with Culture Gift Certificates

List of deepfake photos of female idols posted in a Telegram group chat.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon, Intern Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] The 'obscene deepfake' content, which seemed to have quieted down somewhat after the 'Nth Room' and 'Doctor's Room' incidents, is once again rampant on messengers such as Telegram. Deepfake is a technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to synthesize photos or videos, and deepfakes combining the faces of subjects with obscene content have emerged as a social issue.

On the 8th, a notice was posted in a Telegram group chat recruiting paid members for the 'November xx Room.' The deepfake creator who posted this stated that if users provide cultural gift certificate PIN numbers, they would be invited to chat rooms divided into 1 to 3 levels according to the price. They explained that at level 1, only photos combining female idols' faces with obscene content are provided, and from level 2, videos are shared. At level 3, they posted that they would create deepfakes combining not only celebrities' but also acquaintances' faces with obscene content. The creator also advertised, "We closed due to the aftermath of the Doctor's Room but are reopening. New materials will be uploaded daily."

The temporary slowdown in the distribution of illegal deepfake content appears to be due to strengthened crackdowns and increased penalties following the Nth Room case. Since June 25, the Sexual Violence Punishment Act was amended so that creating and distributing deepfake content can result in up to 5 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 50 million won, and especially if profit-making purposes are recognized, up to 7 years imprisonment. On the 3rd of this month, a man who, although not a typical deepfake, synthesized a separate nude photo onto the face of a minor idol and sold it was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

However, as demand for deepfake content continues unabated, it is understood that criminal activities are increasing again by raising the security level in the distribution process. According to the Korea Communications Standards Commission, there were 184 cases of review and correction requests related to deepfakes until last month after the amendment of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act. The police are continuously investigating deepfake crimes. As of September 3, 65 producers and operators related to deepfakes or other digital sex crimes excluding sexual exploitation materials were arrested, and 340 distributors were also caught. A police official stated, "We are continuing investigations into illegal deepfake content and will respond strictly."