South Korea Criminalises Sexually Explicit Deepfakes
This move is part of broader efforts to combat digital sexual crimes.
South Korean lawmakers have approved a new law that prohibits the possession and viewing of sexually explicit deepfake content
The bill, passed by South Korea's National Assembly on Thursday, 26 September, now awaits President Yoon Suk-yeol's signature to be officially enacted. This move is part of broader efforts to combat digital sexual crimes and protect individuals from the misuse of AI-generated deepfake technology.
The new law imposes penalties of up to three years in prison or a fine of approximately USD22,600 (RM92,916) for individuals who possess, distribute, or view sexually explicit deepfake content.
In South Korea, creating sexually explicit deepfake material with the intent to distribute is already illegal under the Sexual Violence Prevention and Victims Protection Act
Offenders can face up to five years in prison or a fine of around USD38,000 (RM156,259). This law, combined with the recent legislation banning the possession and viewing of such content, further strengthens efforts to combat the misuse of deepfake technology.
The proposed legislation would increase the maximum sentence for creating deepfake pornography to seven years, regardless of whether the creator intended to distribute the content, according to Reuters.
South Korea has witnessed growing public concern over the proliferation of sexually explicit AI-manipulated images and deepfakes
In recent months, authorities have launched investigations into the distribution of such content through platforms like Telegram.
A report by South Korean journalist Ko Na-rin, published in August, revealed that deepfake materials featuring the faces of female graduates from Seoul National University had been created and circulated online by male classmates. This disturbing incident highlights the serious nature of the issue and the need for stricter regulations to protect individuals from online harassment and exploitation.
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