Police Investigate 8 Telegram Bots Creating Deepfake Pornography

Broad Investigation of Video Distribution Channels Including 'Gyeopjiinbang'
Dedicated Task Force Formed for Focused Response

As cases of 'deepfake sex crimes,' involving the production and distribution of videos that superimpose obscene content onto women's faces, continue to surge, the police are accelerating related investigations.

According to the police on the 28th, the Cyber Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is currently conducting a preliminary investigation into eight Telegram programs (bots) that automatically generate deepfake pornographic content.

This marks an eightfold increase in the number of Telegram bots under investigation just two days after the preliminary probe began on the 26th, when it was estimated that about 227,000 users had utilized these bots. A police official stated, "The scope of the investigation can be expanded as much as necessary."

The police are tracking the operators of these bots while also broadly examining Telegram group chats, such as 'Gyeopjiinbang,' where synthesized materials created using these programs are distributed. A police official said, "We will actively gather intelligence and immediately launch investigations upon confirming victim cases to ensure swift arrests."

Additionally, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Cyber Investigation Unit has formed a task force (TF) to focus on responding to deepfake sex crimes and other false video content. The TF is composed of six teams in total: the overall team led by the head of the Cyber Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, three dedicated investigation teams, a cyber profiling team, a digital forensics team, and a support department team. The task force will operate for seven months until March 31 of next year.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated, "Digital sex crimes such as false video content leave indelible scars on victims and are serious offenses," adding, "We will do our utmost to eradicate the production and distribution of deepfake and other false video sex crimes, centered around the task force."