South Korean lawmakers have taken a major step in combating the spread of deepfake pornography by passing a bill that criminalizes the possession and viewing of such content, CNN reports.
The bill, which awaits presidential approval for enactment, sets penalties of up to three years in prison and a fine of 30 million won ($22,600) for those found guilty.
This move comes in response to a surge in deepfake-related crimes, particularly within Telegram group chats where sexually explicit and illegal deepfakes are created and widely shared. The public outcry prompted calls for stricter legislation.
Currently, South Korean law punishes the creation and distribution of deepfake pornography with a five-year prison sentence or a 50 million won ($37,900) fine. The new bill expands the scope of the law to include possession and viewing, and increases the maximum sentence for creation and distribution to seven years, regardless of intent.
The alarming increase in deepfake sex crimes has prompted authorities to take action. South Korean police have investigated over 800 deepfake cases this year, a significant increase from 156 cases in 2021. The majority of victims and perpetrators are teenagers, highlighting the vulnerability of young people to this form of online exploitation.
Police have launched an investigation into Telegram to determine whether the platform has been complicit in the distribution of deepfake pornography.
This legislation marks a growing global trend of nations grappling with the complex issues surrounding deepfake technology. The US Congress is currently considering several bills, including one allowing victims of non-consensual deepfakes to sue and another criminalizing the publication of such imagery.
