National Assembly's Women and Family Committee Passes 'Deepfake Sexual Crime Punishment Enhancement Act'

Deepfake Sexual Crime Videos Included in Child and Adolescent Sexual Exploitation Materials
Expected to Be Addressed at the Plenary Session on the 26th

The National Assembly's Women and Family Committee passed the so-called 'Deepfake Sexual Crime Prevention Act' on the 23rd, which strengthens the punishment for those who misuse deepfake technology to commit digital sexual crimes.

On the same day, the Women and Family Committee held a plenary meeting in the afternoon and approved amendments to the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (Youth Sexual Protection Act) and the Act on the Prevention of Sexual Violence and Protection of Victims (Sexual Violence Prevention Act).

The amendment to the Youth Sexual Protection Act newly establishes punishment provisions for crimes involving threats and coercion against children and juveniles using sexual exploitation materials, imposing heavier penalties than the current Sexual Violence Punishment Act.

Under the current law, threats using sexual exploitation materials are punishable by imprisonment of one year or more, and coercion by three years or more, whereas the amendment stipulates imprisonment of three years or more and five years or more, respectively.

In particular, deepfake sexual crime videos are included in child and juvenile sexual exploitation materials.

Lee In-seon, Chairperson of the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee, is striking the gavel at the plenary meeting of the committee held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. During the meeting, the 'Deepfake Sexual Crime Prevention Act,' including amendments to the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (Youth Sexual Protection Act) and the Act on the Prevention of Sexual Violence and Protection of Victims (Sexual Violence Prevention Act), was passed. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Additionally, the amendment includes provisions allowing police officers to conduct 'emergency undercover investigations' without prior approval from higher authorities when urgent investigations into digital sexual crimes using deepfake technology are necessary.

Furthermore, by amending the Sexual Violence Prevention Act, the law supports the deletion of illegal recordings and the restoration of victims' daily lives, and newly establishes the legal basis for operating digital sexual crime victim support centers at both central and regional levels.

The bills approved on this day are expected to be reviewed and approved by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and then processed at the plenary session on the 26th.