Police Conduct Intensive 3-Month Investigation on Offenders Producing and Distributing Synthetic Sexual Videos Including 'Deepfake'

Seven Arrested Under Revised Sexual Violence Punishment Act
All Victims Are Teenagers
Up to 7 Years Imprisonment for Distribution for Profit

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The police will launch an intensive crackdown for three months on the production and distribution of obscene materials using 'deepfake (AI-based image synthesis technology)'.

The National Police Agency announced on the 26th that from the 1st of next month until February 28th of next year, they will conduct a focused investigation on offenders producing and distributing synthetic sexual videos.

The so-called 'Ji-in-neung-yok' crime, which refers to the production and distribution of synthetic sexual videos, is a digital sex crime that uses technologies such as deepfake to precisely synthesize and distribute others' bodies, faces, and sexual videos.

Previously, these acts were punished under the Information and Communications Network Act for defamation or distribution of obscene materials, but with the revision of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act in June this year, a separate legal basis for punishing such crimes was established. Not only the simple producers but also distributors can face imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to 50 million won, and especially if distributed for profit, imprisonment of up to 7 years can be imposed.

The police have arrested seven suspects so far by applying the newly established punishment regulations. The number of victims whose images were synthesized is 15, all of whom are teenagers. In Seoul, in August this year, a suspect who directly synthesized or commissioned the synthesis of photos of six victims with obscene materials to create false videos and distributed them was arrested. In Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, a suspect was caught who synthesized the face photos of four high school classmates with obscene materials to produce and distribute 30 synthetic videos for the purpose of entering a Telegram group sharing Ji-in synthetic videos. The police explained that these crimes were committed to satisfy distorted sexual desires and to generate profits through production and distribution.

During the intensive crackdown period, the police plan to focus investigations on ▲those who produce false videos by synthesizing others' body or face photos with sexual videos using deepfake, ▲those who commission the production of synthetic sexual videos, and ▲those who distribute or redistribute produced synthetic sexual videos. They also plan to strictly respond to acts of threats or coercion under the pretext of commissioning synthetic video production.

Alongside the crackdown, the police plan to strengthen monitoring of related crimes and support for deletion and blocking through cooperation with civic groups and related organizations. A National Police Agency official stated, "Once synthetic sexual videos are distributed, they continuously spread and are redistributed, causing additional harm, making it a serious crime," emphasizing a strict response stance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.