Following the detention of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France, South Korean media outlets have reported extensively on a new investigation into the platform’s alleged role in the distribution of deepfake pornography. Reports emphasize that minors have sometimes become “victims” of the AI-generated content.
The National Investigation Division of South Korea’s National Police Agency has confirmed that a “pre-trial investigation” has been launched against Telegram LLC, mirroring the legal actions currently taking place in France. According to law enforcement, Telegram has refused to provide personal data of account holders responsible for sharing pornographic images and videos.
The national police commissioner acknowledged that the primary concern for law enforcement is Telegram’s strong message encryption, which complicates investigations by making it difficult to access communication data in a timely manner.