South Korean teenagers detained over deepfake sexual images, sparking investigation into Telegram and wider social media use

In South Korea, a surge of sexually explicit videos and images has been reported, with authorities investigating the matter. The images and videos, which include deepfakes, have been spread online, causing shock and concern among the public. It is reported that young men have been stealing social media images from female classmates, teachers, and neighbors to create the explicit content. A Korean bot on Telegram has been used by almost 227,000 people to create deepfakes, and the police have launched an investigation into the encrypted messaging platform. The use of deepfakes, which involve digitally superimposing faces onto other images or videos using AI technology, has raised concerns about the spread of explicit content and the potential for online harassment.