"Deepfake, Students Trembling in Fear"... High School Student Sends Handwritten Letter to Han Dong-hoon

by Heo Midam

Published 28 Aug.2024 11:22(KST)

Handonghun "Will Take the Lead in Establishing Measures to Eradicate Digital Sex Crimes"

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, revealed a handwritten letter from a high school student urging measures against deepfake crimes.

[Image source=Han Dong-hoon, People Power Party leader's Facebook]

On the 27th, Han posted a photo of a handwritten letter from a third-year high school student active in the Youth Special Committee of the People Power Party's Jeonnam Provincial Party on his Facebook. The student wrote in the letter, "The deepfake incident is truly shocking and not something to be taken lightly, yet it seems that the political sphere is not seriously addressing it. I am reaching out in hopes that the party will take an interest in this matter." The student pointed out, "A few years ago, the entire country was shaken by the Telegram Nth Room case, but recently, a similar large-scale incident using Telegram has occurred again," adding, "Using Telegram as a shield, illegal synthetic materials are being created and distributed using photos of their own family, colleagues, and classmates."

He continued, "Regardless of the situation, students are trembling in fear right now," and said, "The future of South Korea, which should be protected under the law and system based on the value of justice, is being maliciously damaged outside the bounds of the law." He also added, "I sincerely ask for the attention and efforts of the party and the nation, including the respected leader, to prepare countermeasures."

Handonghun, Leader of the People Power Party. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Han, while revealing the letter, said, "As the victims of deepfake crimes expand and the reality becomes known, public concern is growing." He emphasized, "It is humans who misuse AI, but it is also humans who can prevent and restrict it," and added, "Misuse can be stopped within the framework of laws and systems." He continued, "Although the Nth Room Prevention Act was passed in the 21st National Assembly, the lack of systems and policies to prevent the side effects of AI must be promptly supplemented," and said, "The People Power Party will take the lead in establishing measures to eradicate digital sex crimes."

Meanwhile, concerns are growing as large-scale group chat rooms suspected of generating and distributing deepfake pornography have been discovered on social networking services (SNS), including Telegram. According to the National Police Agency, from January to July, a total of 297 reports of deepfake sexual exploitation crimes (distribution of false videos under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act) were received nationwide. Among the 178 suspects booked, teenagers accounted for 131, making up 73.6%.

President Yoon Suk-yeol said at the Cabinet meeting the day before, regarding deepfake sex crimes, "The relevant authorities should thoroughly investigate and root out these digital sex crimes through strict investigations."