Telegram Access Block Measures Remain Limited to Dozens Over Several Years

Assemblywoman Kim Nam-hee Announces Status Report Submitted to the Korea Communications Standards Commission
Contrasting Hundreds of X Blocking Measures
Deepfake Illegal Distributors Blamed for Explosion and Shelter Use

Access blocking measures against Telegram, where illegal deepfake composite materials mainly using faces of celebrities or acquaintances are circulated, have remained at only dozens of cases over several years.

Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the 'Doctor's Room,' who threatened dozens of women including minors on the internet messenger Telegram and forced them to film obscene materials, which he then distributed. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

According to the status of correction requests for false sexual videos by major platforms submitted by the Korea Communications Standards Commission to Kim Nam-hee, a member of the National Assembly's Women and Family Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, the number of access blocking cases against Telegram was 13 in 2022, 38 in 2023, and 34 up to July this year.

The number of access blocking cases against X (formerly Twitter) was 484 in 2022, 354 in 2023, and 171 up to July this year.

Blocking of other platforms such as overseas P2P sites where individuals exchange files increased from 3,574 cases during the same period to 7,187 cases, and 6,434 cases up to July this year, showing an increasing trend.

The Korea Communications Standards Commission explained that for domestic digital sex crime information, it requests 'deletion,' and for overseas information, it requests domestic Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to take 'access blocking' measures against the relevant sites or platforms. Most of the illegal composites currently circulated fall under overseas information, so access blocking is requested.

A representative of the Commission explained the reason why the number of access blocking cases against Telegram is significantly lower than that of P2P sites: "Many distributors of illegal composites through Telegram disappear before access blocking measures are implemented by methods such as blowing up rooms or moving to 'shelters'."

Assemblywoman Kim pointed out, "To prevent the illegal distribution of sexual exploitation materials abusing the characteristics of Telegram, more monitoring personnel should be deployed and active responses should be made so that swift blocking measures can be implemented."