Deepfake porn is wreaking havoc on the lives of women in South Korea, exacerbating gender conflicts in the country. A 30-year-old woman from South Korea shared her ongoing trauma three years after being bombarded with fake nude images of herself online. The distress has made it difficult for her to interact with men and even using a mobile phone triggers harrowing memories.
Numerous South Korean women have bravely stepped forward to recount similar ordeals as the nation grapples with a proliferation of non-consensual and explicit deepfake videos and images circulating widely. The parliament recently amended the law to outlaw the viewing or possession of deepfake porn content. Most of the suspected perpetrators in South Korea are reportedly teenage boys who target female peers, relatives, and acquaintances, often as a joke, out of curiosity, or due to misogynistic attitudes.
The surge in deepfake porn incidents in South Korea came to light when unverified lists of schools with victims surfaced online in August. In response, many girls and women rushed to delete photos and videos from their social media accounts while thousands took to the streets in protests advocating for tougher measures against deepfake porn. The issue has sparked discussions among politicians, academics, and activists about the urgent need to address this crisis.
The country’s President, Yoon Suk Yeol, and other officials have acknowledged the spike in explicit deepfake content on social media. Law enforcement has embarked on a seven-month crackdown to combat this phenomenon. Notably, the founder of the messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, was detained in France in August over allegations of facilitating illicit activities, including the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Telegram has since pledged to enforce a zero-tolerance policy on illegal deepfake content.
The distressing impact of deepfake porn on victims cannot be understated. Victims report severe suffering as a result of these violations. The failure of authorities to effectively address this digital sex crime epidemic has been criticised by advocates, with calls for stronger punitive measures to deter such offences. The pervasive culture of misogyny and lax regulations exacerbate the situation, leading to further rifts in gender relationships and exacerbating societal divisions.
In South Korea, which has been identified as a prime target for deepfake pornography, the issue underscores broader societal challenges related to gender roles, workplace discrimination, and digital sex crimes. The profound emotional and psychological consequences experienced by victims demand urgent action to safeguard the well-being of women and bridge the gender divide in the country.