Telegram pledges to zero-tolerance policy on deepfake pornography

Seoul: South Korea's media regulator announced on Monday that Telegram has agreed to implement a zero-tolerance policy for deepfake pornography and other illegal content on its platform. This decision follows a meeting between Telegram and the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), where concerns were raised about manipulated images of Korean women that have appeared on the app in recent months.

During the meeting, Telegram recognized the seriousness of the issue in South Korea and pledged to take strict action against illegal material, according to Yonhap news agency. "Telegram said they understood the situation in Korea where deepfake porn content has become a significant social issue," KCSC Chairman Ryu Hee-lim stated in a press conference, adding that the platform will take stern measures to combat the problem.

The platform will focus on removing content related to digital sex crimes, pornography, prostitution, drugs, and gambling, as requested by the KCSC, which is responsible for reviewing and flagging illegal content.

Telegram has also committed to collaborating closely with South Korean authorities, including the police, and will hold regular meetings with the KCSC. To enhance their efforts, a new hotline will be established to facilitate quicker responses to content violations.

The KCSC expects that illegal content will be removed more efficiently following this agreement. Between September 3 and 25, Telegram already removed 148 cases of sexual exploitation material at the KCSC's request.

The South Korean state telecommunications watchdog noted "significant progress" in its recent discussions with Telegram regarding deepfake content on the app. Amid a rise in deepfake videos, Telegram initiated a hotline with the KCSC earlier this month to improve its response to such content, resulting in the removal of dozens of explicit materials and immediate notifications to the KCSC.

Agency