"Spread of 'Deepfake' Crimes... 'Change Your KakaoTalk Profile First'"

Even with Just a Few Photos and 1-2 Videos, Synthesis Possible
Police Agency Also Warns "Avoid Public SNS Accounts"

As deepfake crimes spread, cases of closing or switching social networking service (SNS) accounts to private are increasing.

On the 9th, Yonhap News reported the case of Ms. A, a woman in her 30s with two children attending daycare centers. Ms. A recently changed her Instagram account, which was previously visible to everyone, to friends-only. She is also using KakaoTalk's 'Multi-profile' feature, which allows showing different profile pictures depending on the recipient. Ms. A told Yonhap News, "I was worried that photos of my children posted on SNS might be misused for deepfake crimes," adding, "More and more people around me are starting to make their photos private."

As technology advances and deepfake crimes diversify?including the production of sexually exploitative materials that have recently drawn attention, voice phishing disguised as kidnapping, and blackmail?users like Ms. A are increasingly switching their SNS accounts to private or even closing them entirely.

While previous crimes were limited to voice imitation, now crimes are being committed that use children’s faces or voices close to reality to psychologically pressure parents. Experts warn that technology has advanced to the point where deepfake videos can be created using just a few photos or one or two videos posted on SNS.

In fact, in October, a kidnapping blackmail case using a deepfake video occurred. A foreigner, Mr. B, received a video of his daughter, who was traveling in Korea, crying and saying "Save me" while being held captive. The perpetrator threatened him to send money, but it turned out the video was fake and the daughter was safe. On the 7th, the National Police Agency disclosed such cases and advised against setting SNS accounts to public.

This month, local council members also received threatening emails containing illegal deepfake composite materials, and deepfake sexual exploitation damage targeting teenagers and teachers is ongoing. The Ministry of Education announced that from January to November 1 this year, 883 students and 33 teachers were reported as victims of deepfake false videos.

In active teacher cafes, 'self-help measures' are being shared, such as "All SNS accounts should be switched to private or deleted," and "Do not post pictures of children or spouses on KakaoTalk profiles."