KCSC Initiates Rapid Review Process
for Deepfake Videos of President Yoon and First Lady Kim
Deepfake videos of President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Geon-hee have been blocked on YouTube.
According to Yonhap News on the 17th, the deepfake videos of the presidential couple have been blocked on YouTube. When attempting to play these videos, a message appears stating, "This video cannot be played. The content is not available in this country domain due to a legal complaint."
A Google Korea representative explained, "Removal requests based on legal complaints occur when a report is filed under local laws such as defamation, and if it is judged that there is a possibility of legal violation, the content is taken down regardless of YouTube's own policies."
Another video plays when clicked, but clicking on the YouTube channel shows a message saying, "This channel is not available."
The Google Korea representative added, "In this case, it can be seen that the YouTuber either deleted the content themselves or the government requested the block."
It is expected that other deepfake videos will be deleted sequentially in the future.
The police also began a pre-investigation related to this case on the same day and stated that an investigation will proceed if a formal complaint is filed.
The Korea Communications Standards Commission has initiated a "rapid review" process for the videos. As early as the afternoon of the 18th, the Communications Review Subcommittee will hold a meeting to take swift review measures regarding the related videos. However, if the videos are removed before then, the case may be dismissed.
Meanwhile, at a pro-impeachment rally for the president held on the 15th at the Gwangju 5·18 Democracy Square, a deepfake video superimposing the faces of the presidential couple was played.
In response, the Presidential Office stated the previous day, "We cannot contain our anger over the serious personal defamation and human rights violations that go beyond mere mockery of the sitting president and his spouse, as well as the criminal acts using deepfake technology," and announced plans for legal action. The Presidential Office said, "President Yoon clearly maintains his status as the sitting president, and this is a blatant insult to the head of state," adding, "We strongly express regret to those who produced the deepfake video, those who played it at the rally, and those who passively allowed it to happen on site."
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