The investigation comes as global pressure on Telegram grows, with investigations into the company also underway in other countries, including India.
TON, the native token of The Open Network, has seen a slight price drop over the past 24 hours following reports that Telegram is under investigation in South Korea for allegedly distributing deepfake pornography and other sexual materials, including those of Korean women.
The digital asset, which began to lose value following the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France last week, fell about 3% on Monday, according to data from CoinMarketCap. TON is now valued at about $5.16, down from its all-time high of $8.25 set in June of this year.
South Korea Targets Telegram Deepfake Crimes
The decline came less than 24 hours after South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that the National Investigation Headquarters had launched a preliminary investigation into the encrypted messaging app to determine whether Telegram violated national laws.
Police are investigating the platform’s practices and allegations that explicit deepfake sexual content and material, including of women, were distributed on the platform.
The investigation began after police received alarming reports of deepfake porn being circulated in Telegram chatrooms. These manipulated images and videos, designed to look like real people, have sparked protests from both domestic feminist groups and international K-pop fans, and have prompted calls for immediate government action.
Following public outcry, South Korea’s President Yoon Seok-yeol has ordered a comprehensive investigation into digital sex crimes, particularly those that misuse technology to create and distribute deepfake pornography.
Director Yoon stressed the importance of cracking down on the exploitation of women in digital spaces and called for stronger regulations to address the issue.
Authorities take decisive action
At the President’s request, South Korean regulators have pledged to work with police to take strong action against those involved in the production and distribution of deepfake videos for sexual exploitation.
They also urged Telegram and other social media companies to fully cooperate in efforts to eradicate this growing problem.
Police are now taking action, starting with Telegram. Authorities are investigating the platform to see if reports are true that it distributes deepfake sexual content and other illegal material involving women.
The investigation comes as global pressure mounts on Telegram, which is also under investigation in other countries, including India. The South Korean probe is focused on illegal sexual content, while the Indian probe is focused on allegations of extortion and gambling via the platform.
Korean women used in deepfake porn
Over the years, Korean women have been disproportionately targeted in deepfake porn. According to a 2023 report by U.S.-based identity protection startup Security Hero, Korean celebrities, including popular singers and actresses, account for 53% of all individuals featured in deepfake content worldwide.
The problem is spreading rapidly in Korea. So far this year, South Korean police have reported 297 cases of deepfake-related sexual crimes.
This figure is a sharp increase from the 156 cases recorded in 2021. Surprisingly, many of the victims and perpetrators are teenagers.
The gravity of the situation was highlighted in August when a South Korean court convicted a man of creating deepfake porn targeting female students at Seoul National University.
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Chimamanda is a crypto enthusiast and an experienced writer focused on the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies. She has been interested in emerging economies since joining the industry in 2019. She combines her passion for blockchain technology with her love of travel and food to bring a fresh and engaging perspective to her work.
