Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Issues 'Emergency School Bell' for Youth Deepfake Crimes

Strict Warning on Production and Posting Activities

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 27th that it will issue an 'Emergency School Bell' to prevent the spread of deepfake content.

Amid the recent increase in deepfake sex crimes, it has been revealed that a high proportion of the offenders are teenagers. Accordingly, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has decided to carry out intensive prevention activities targeting youth in cooperation with related organizations such as the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.

This Emergency School Bell is the second issuance this year, following the one related to youth gambling in May. The system was established in 2021 through collaboration between the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. When issued, it is simultaneously disseminated via applications or text messages to 1,374 elementary, middle, and high schools across Seoul and 780,000 parents.

This time, the message strongly warned that deepfake is a sex crime that destroys daily life and will be severely punished. It also included cases where youths were punished for sharing or posting materials through deepfake. Furthermore, it urged youths to report any posts suspected to be deepfake in social networking service (SNS) group chats to 112 or 117, or to notify the school’s dedicated police officer (SPO).

Kim Bong-sik, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, stated, "Deepfake sex crimes cause irreparable wounds and extreme anxiety to victims and directly threaten the safety of our society, so we will respond strictly. We also plan to actively carry out deepfake prevention activities targeting students in cooperation with related organizations such as the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education."