[Sexual Exploitation, Out] "Chat Apps Exposed to Teens... Platform Punishment Rules Weak Despite Ongoing Sexual Crimes"

Interview with Shin Bora, President of the Korea Women's Human Rights Institute
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Editor's NoteChild and adolescent prostitution is defined as sexual exploitation. This is because it is difficult to consider children and adolescents, whose sexual self-determination is immature, as subjects of sexual consent or contracts. Children and adolescents who quickly form intimacy online through social media, messengers, and anonymous-based platforms are more easily caught up in sexual exploitation crimes than before. According to the Korea Women's Human Rights Institute's Central Digital Sexual Crime Victim Support Center, one in four victims supported last year for digital sexual crimes were teenagers (27.8%). Compared to 2023, the number of teenage victims supported by the center increased by more than 600 (3.3 percentage points). Crimes of sexual exploitation against children and adolescents are clear sexual abuse. We examine whether there are ways to prevent these crimes and what specific measures are needed based on actual victim cases.

"Any sexual relationship involving children and adolescents is subject to legal punishment in any form. It cannot be justified by claiming it is a dating relationship. It is clear child abuse as defined by child protection laws such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Child Welfare Act, and the Act on the Protection of Children and Adolescents from Sexual Abuse."

Shin Bora, President of the Korea Women's Human Rights Institute, said in an interview with Asia Economy at the Korea Women's Human Rights Institute in Jung-gu, Seoul, "Attempting sexual approaches to children and adolescents based on economic superiority is a serious human rights violation and crime regardless of the victim's consent," emphasizing this point.

[Sexual Exploitation, Out] "Chat Apps Exposed to Teens... Platform Punishment Rules Weak Despite Ongoing Sexual Crimes"

Shin Bora, President of the Korea Women's Rights Promotion Institute. Korea Women's Rights Promotion Institute

What measures are needed to eradicate increasingly sophisticated crimes of sexual exploitation against children and adolescents combined with digital technology? We asked President Shin, who has listened to voices from the field and encountered victim cases during her two years in office, for solutions. The following is a Q&A.

-According to the recently published Digital Sexual Crime Victim Support Report, the number of teenage victims supported has increased. What is the cause?

▶Access to online platforms has improved even for children under 10. Nowadays, children and adolescents naturally consider forming relationships online. Consequently, the rate of exposure to harmful environments on the internet has also increased. Sexual exploitation of teenagers generally occurs through chat applications (apps), social networking services (SNS), and open chats. Preventive measures to restrict app and SNS use to adults only have not been effectively implemented, increasing the likelihood of children and adolescents being exposed to harmful environments.

-Is the damage caused by online grooming to children and adolescents significant?

▶Analysis of sexual crime verdicts shows that cases where victims were lured and then coerced into sending 'self-filmed sexual exploitation materials' increased 2.7 times from 2019 to 2022. Grooming, which abuses trust, begins with emotional exchange and initially satisfies the private desires of children and adolescents. For example, sending small gifts online or purchasing game items. After establishing a certain level of intimacy, sexual demands or requests for photos of their bodies follow.

-Can sexual exploitation of children and adolescents be considered child abuse?

▶We must recognize that sexual exploitation of children and adolescents is a serious human rights violation and crime. According to Article 34 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children have the right to protection and assistance from all forms of prostitution, sexual exploitation, and sexual abuse. Korean law also defines all such acts as child abuse.

-What do you think is the fundamental reason why sexual exploitation crimes are not eradicated?

▶There are complex reasons, but primarily it is due to the advancement of digital technology. While it brings convenience and economic prosperity, there are certainly dark aspects. For example, programs that utilize deepfake technology are released as open source, but preemptive restrictions or app usage limitations to prevent their use in producing sexualized synthetic materials are not immediately implemented. This gap allows crimes to expand in various ways using digital technology.

Additionally, distorted perceptions of sexuality and gender stereotypes remain areas that need improvement. Regarding offender punishment, although laws stipulate strong penalties, actual court rulings sometimes result in mild punishments. This prevents offenders from being properly restrained for their wrongful acts.

-Are there ways to prevent sexual exploitation?

▶Technological proactive measures by platforms are essential. There are 2,000 to 3,000 chat apps operated by general businesses in Korea alone. The Korea Women's Human Rights Institute monitors these directly and proactively deletes information that induces sexual exploitation, but fundamentally, technical autonomous measures by platforms must precede this. The institute is also preparing an AI-based project in cooperation with the Korea Intelligent Information Society Agency to detect such content. There are definitely things that can be done not only by public institutions but also by the platforms themselves.

-If a family discovers that their child is a victim of sexual exploitation, what actions should they take?

▶Support and empathy are most important. Victims often experience strong emotional instability, depression, shame, and guilt, so if they are criticized or blamed, they may avoid communication altogether and their self-esteem may decline. Parents, who have the greatest trust relationship, should provide emotional support and empathy, saying, "This is not your fault. It's okay. Let's find a way together," which can speed up recovery. If the victim hesitates to report directly, they can seek advice and respond through specialized institutions.

-How do other countries impose sanctions?

▶Korea has focused mainly on technology and platform industry development, so measures to protect users are weak. The UK Parliament passed the Online Safety Act last year. According to this law, platform companies that fail to properly block harmful content can be fined up to ?18 million (about 32.2 billion KRW) or 10% of their global annual revenue, whichever is higher. Even legal content harmful to children is subject to regulation. Australia became the first country in the world to pass a law imposing fines on platforms if children under 16 create SNS accounts.