KCC Notifies on 7th... Replies with Hotline on 9th
Hotline Email Also "Close Cooperation" Responds in 4 Hours
Telegram Domestic Agent Designation Under Review
Telegram, which was controversial as a distribution channel for deepfake sexual crime materials in South Korea, has announced to the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) that it will designate a Youth Protection Officer. This response came just two days after the KCC notified Telegram that it falls under the obligation to designate a Youth Protection Officer.
On the 19th, Kim Wooseok, head of the Digital Harmful Information Response Division at the KCC, stated in a briefing, "Telegram notified us on the 9th of the designation of a Youth Protection Officer along with a hotline," adding, "They conveyed their stance to strictly respond to illegal information and copyright violations."
Previously, on the 7th, the KCC requested Telegram to designate a Youth Protection Officer and report the results, citing that most deepfake sexual crime materials were being distributed through Telegram. Based on analysis by a specialized agency, the KCC determined that Telegram’s average daily user count exceeds 100,000, meeting the criteria for mandatory designation of a Youth Protection Officer.
In response to the KCC’s request, Telegram replied positively, agreeing to designate a Youth Protection Officer. They also provided a hotline email address for administrative communication. Kim said, "To verify whether the email address was functioning properly, we sent an email, and within four hours, Telegram responded with a commitment to 'closely cooperate.'"
The fact that Telegram responded within two days is unusual. The KCC had sent two requests for submission of materials to verify whether Telegram met the criteria for designating a Youth Protection Officer in September and October, but Telegram did not respond within the deadlines.
Kim explained, "Previously, it seems there was no response because it was just a request for cooperation," and added, "This time, since the KCC officially requested a position after determining that Telegram is a mandatory business operator for Youth Protection Officer designation, they responded." He also noted, "Although we sent the email to Telegram’s general mail, the fact that they replied within two days suggests they are monitoring domestic media trends."
The KCC plans to negotiate with Telegram so that it can carry out the establishment of youth protection plans and the blocking and management of harmful information as stipulated by the Information and Communications Network Act.
The KCC is also reviewing the designation of a domestic agent for Telegram. For overseas value-added telecommunications service providers without an address or office in South Korea, the Telecommunications Business Act requires the designation of a domestic agent to handle data submission and user protection duties. The KCC may impose the obligation to designate a domestic agent based on the history of data submission requests.
Kim stated, "There are requirements related to the designation of a domestic agent," and added, "We have regularly requested cooperation in submitting materials regarding those requirements." He continued, "Although Telegram had not responded until now, I think that after officially designating a Youth Protection Officer, if the KCC requests related data submission, they will be much closer to meeting the designation requirements," and concluded, "When the time comes, we will communicate with Telegram to ensure faithful compliance with the law."
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