According to the latest crypto news, South Korea is ramping up the fight against online sex crimes by launching its first-ever investigation into Telegram.
South Korean authorities have launched an investigation into Telegram Messenger over allegations of enabling deepfake sex crimes. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency began this probe, marking the first time South Korea has scrutinized Telegram’s corporate entity.
This investigation follows France’s lead, with South Korea planning to collaborate with French investigators to overcome challenges, such as Telegram’s reluctance to share user data.
Woo Jong-soo, head of South Korea’s National Office of Investigation, highlighted the difficulty in accessing necessary data, which has prompted South Korea to seek international cooperation.
Despite these challenges, Telegram has complied with South Korea’s request to remove 25 pieces of illicit content, according to the Korea Communications Standards Commission. The company also expressed regret for the miscommunication and agreed to establish a hotline with South Korean authorities.
The investigation is part of a broader effort to combat online sex crimes, as South Korea continues to address these issues following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s call for action in August.
Notably, a previous investigation uncovered a Telegram group with 1,200 members sharing explicit images.
Although Telegram is not the most popular messaging app in South Korea, with only three million monthly active users as of April 2024, the platform ranks third behind local giants KakaoTalk and Instagram. KakaoTalk dominates the market with a 95% usage rate, while Instagram follows at 25%.
This investigation adds to Telegram’s growing global scrutiny. French authorities recently arrested Telegram founder Pavel Durov, leading to multiple charges, including facilitating the dissemination of child pornography.
Following this, India, with over 100 million Telegram users, and Indonesia, another major market, have also considered actions against the platform. Meanwhile, the European Union is investigating whether Telegram provided false data on its user numbers within the bloc.
South Korea’s investigation underscores the increasing global pressure on Telegram to address the platform’s role in facilitating illicit activities.
