Telegram Promises to Cooperate with South Korean Authorities

Telegram has promised to cooperate with South Korean authorities in combating the distribution of pornographic deepfakes and other crimes committed through the messenger, according to a report by Zakon.kz.

"Telegram has informed the Broadcasting and Communications Review Commission that it will now adhere to a zero-tolerance principle concerning illegal information and the abuse of technology, such as deepfakes... Representatives from Telegram have committed to fully cooperate in this regard. This is aimed not only at reducing sexual crimes in the digital space but also at addressing illegal information related to drugs, gambling, and other issues," the statement reads.

The messenger's representatives are obliged to consult regularly with the commission's staff and, in addition to the existing communication channel, to establish another hotline with an employee who will be constantly available.

A South Korean representative noted that they view the results of the initial consultations very positively and hope that Telegram will continue to expedite the blocking and deletion of illegal information.

The publication mentions that this is Telegram's first contact with South Korean law enforcement.

It is reported that the South Korean police are conducting a preliminary investigation into crimes related to pornographic deepfakes published on Telegram and are discussing the possibility of pursuing criminal charges against the messenger's officials. If formal charges are filed against Telegram's leadership, an arrest warrant may be issued, which would be transmitted to Interpol. The South Korean police are also considering cooperation options with French investigative authorities.