South Korea Takes a Stand: Watching or Possessing Sexually Explicit Deepfakes Now a Crime! 🚫

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Summary:

  1. New Legislation Passed
    South Korean lawmakers have enacted a bill that makes it illegal to possess or view sexually explicit deepfake images and videos, imposing significant penalties including prison time and fines.

  2. Public Outcry
    The move comes in response to widespread concerns over Telegram group chats where illegal and explicit deepfakes were created and shared, leading to calls for stricter regulations.

  3. Penalties for Offenders
    Individuals found guilty of purchasing, saving, or watching such content could face up to three years in prison or fines reaching 30 million won ($22,600).

  4. Increased Sentencing for Distribution
    Currently, making sexually explicit deepfakes for distribution carries a penalty of five years in prison or a fine of 50 million won. With the new law, the maximum sentence for such crimes will rise to seven years, regardless of intent.

  5. Escalating Deepfake Crimes
    South Korean police reported over 800 deepfake sex crime cases this year alone, a significant increase from 156 cases in all of 2021. Most victims and offenders are teenagers.

Read more at: Reuters