Personal data spreads online despite decision not to disclose identity
Account switched to private after followers surged 45-fold
The social media account of Ms. A, a woman in her 20s accused of murdering men by handing them drinks laced with drugs at lodging establishments in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, has been switched to private. While the police have decided not to disclose her identity, personal information about her has been spreading online, fueling controversy over so-called "private sanctions."
Ms. A, a woman in her 20s accused of killing two men at a motel in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, appeared at the Seoul Northern District Court on the 12th to undergo a detention warrant hearing. Yonhap News Agency
According to Instagram and other platforms on the 26th, Ms. A's account is believed to have been switched from public to private around noon the previous day. This came two weeks after her emergency arrest and six days after she was handed over to the prosecution in custody.
Followers surged 45-fold after media reports... account switched to private
The number of followers on Ms. A's Instagram account steadily increased after media reports, reportedly reaching more than 11,000. Compared with the roughly 240 followers she had on the 19th, this represents about a 45-fold increase. It appears that many users searched for related information online and then accessed her account.
The police decided not to disclose Ms. A's identity, saying the case does not sufficiently meet requirements such as the brutality of the method used in the crime. However, following this decision, personal information believed to be hers has been shared online, leading to a spike in visits to her account and a flood of critical comments. Some critics argue that the vague standards for identity disclosure may in fact have encouraged private sanctions.
On the other hand, some comments read, "She's pretty, so she's innocent," "If it were me, I would drink the beverage right away," "She is truly beautiful. Her eyes are sharp yet lovely," "The court should take her looks into account when sentencing," "Let's all set up a fundraising account," "Honestly, I don't really know what she did so wrong," and "I doubt there would be even 1 man out of 100 who would refuse if a woman like that was the one suggesting going to a motel first."
The police, however, say that the account being switched to private will not affect the additional investigation. When they arrested Ms. A on the 11th, they seized her mobile phone and are conducting forensic analysis, checking for possible victims among people who contacted her via text messages and social media messengers.
"I passed out after drinking the beverage"... signs of additional victims emerge
Ms. A is accused of handing drinks laced with drugs to three men in their 20s at motels and other locations in the Gangbuk-gu area on three occasions - in December last year, last month, and earlier this month - killing two of them and injuring one. On the 19th, the Seoul Gangbuk Police Station referred Ms. A to the prosecution on charges of murder, aggravated assault, and violating the Narcotics Control Act.
Separately, indications of additional victims have also emerged. The police recently questioned a man in his 30s, Mr. B, as a reference witness. Mr. B is reported to have testified that he lost consciousness after drinking a hangover-relief drink given to him by Ms. A at a karaoke bar in Gangbuk-gu last month. He is said to have then received emergency treatment from the fire authorities.
Before committing the alleged crimes, Ms. A is known to have sought legal advice from ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) service, asking questions such as "What happens if you take sleeping pills with alcohol?", "How much of them together is dangerous?", and "Could it be fatal?"
Regarding the possibility of additional victims, the police stated, "It is difficult to provide details as this is part of an ongoing investigation," but added, "We will get to the bottom of whether there are additional victims." If other victims are identified, the police plan to book Ms. A on additional charges and continue the investigation.
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