Over 1,400 Arrested in Korea's Massive Undercover Sting Against Deepfake Porn

Surge in Undercover Investigations Against Deepfake Pornography

The Korea National Police Agency has revealed that since September 2021, it has conducted an extensive 515 undercover investigations targeting illegal deepfake pornography.

These efforts have led to the apprehension of 1,415 individuals, highlighting a significant crackdown on digital sex crimes.

Teenagers at the Heart of Deepfake Distribution

Among those arrested are teenagers who are suspected of forming a Telegram chat room to distribute approximately 1,380 pieces of deepfake pornography.

Recent arrests include two young individuals, aged 18 and 19, charged with violating the Juvenile Protection Act.

These teenagers reportedly sold deepfake pornography videos on Telegram from December 2023 to July 2024.

In a coordinated effort, police also arrested 20 additional teenagers who purchased these videos.

The authorities confirmed the situation,

“These crimes were uncovered by undercover police investigations.”

Methods of Undercover Investigations

The Cyber Investigation Division of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency has been utilising two primary methods for undercover investigations.

The first, nondisclosure investigations, allows officers to collect evidence without revealing their identities.

The second, disguised identity investigations, involves officers posing as buyers or sellers to gather intelligence.

Through these methods, police uncovered 397 deepfake cases, resulting in the arrest of 920 suspects and the detention of 38 individuals.

An additional 118 cases were identified through disguised identity investigations, leading to 495 arrests and 56 detentions.

Remarkably, crimes involving minors accounted for a staggering 400 cases, or 77.7 percent of the total.

A police officer noted,

“Undercover investigations are effective in collecting evidence and identifying and arresting suspects in crimes using secure messengers such as Telegram that do not cooperate with investigations.”

Calls for Expansion of Undercover Operations

In light of the growing threat posed by digital sex crimes, some experts advocate for a broader application of undercover investigations.

Currently, these operations are primarily restricted to sex crimes against minors, limiting their effectiveness in addressing crimes involving adults.

Lee Keun-woo, a law professor at Gachon University, emphasised the need for proactive measures,

“We should consider undercover investigations on Telegram as a sort of patrol in a high-crime area.”

He continued,

“The problem cannot be solved simply by trying to understand the situation after receiving reports of damage after the crimes have already happened. It is important to send a message that the investigative agency is watching, so we must actively utilise the undercover investigation system.”

Balancing Human Rights and Investigation Necessities

However, the implementation of undercover operations is not without controversy.

Concerns about potential human rights infringements during these investigations have been raised.

Lee Chang-hyun, a professor of law at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, highlighted the importance of maintaining ethical standards.

He remarked,

“To quell controversy over human rights violations, self-regulatory efforts such as coordinating the investigation method or limiting the scope of activities are necessary at higher levels.”

Legal Framework Governing Undercover Investigations

Currently, the legal framework surrounding undercover investigations ensures that they are conducted with oversight.

For nondisclosure investigations, prior approval from the head of the investigation department of a superior police precinct is required.

In the case of disguised identity investigations, both a prosecution request and court permission are necessary.

The police have committed to ongoing evaluations of illegality and abuse during undercover investigations through on-site inspections.

Formation of Task Force to Combat Deepfake Crimes

In a proactive measure, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has recently established a task force dedicated to addressing deepfake pornography.

This initiative aims to intensively tackle digital sex crimes, with current investigations focusing on 74 identified suspects.

Commissioner Kim Bong-sik stated during a regular press briefing,

“We are currently investigating 126 cases and have identified 74 suspects.”

Additionally, the agency is conducting an internal investigation regarding potential legal actions against Telegram for its alleged role in facilitating deepfake sexual crimes.

A representative explained,

“We are taking necessary measures and conducting international cooperative investigations according to procedures.”

Through these concerted efforts, the police aim to fortify their response to the alarming rise in digital sex crimes, ensuring a safer environment for all individuals, particularly minors, who are increasingly vulnerable to such exploitative practices.