365Crypto
South Korean authorities are investigating Telegram Messenger over allegations of facilitating illicit content, particularly deepfake sex crimes, marking the first probe into Telegram’s corporate entity in the country. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency launched the investigation after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol urged local authorities to combat online sex crimes. The investigation follows a similar move by French authorities.
Challenges in the probe include Telegram’s refusal to share user data with law enforcement, a common issue faced by investigators worldwide. To address this, South Korean police plan to collaborate with French and international authorities to develop effective strategies for investigating the platform.
Despite these challenges, Telegram has complied with South Korean requests to remove deepfake content, apologizing for past miscommunication. The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) reported that Telegram’s East Asia division removed 25 pieces of illicit content and proposed setting up a hotline with South Korean authorities to better address such issues.
South Korea’s move comes amid a global crackdown on Telegram. Following the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in France in August 2024, several countries, including India and Indonesia, have also launched investigations into the platform’s handling of illegal content. The European Union is investigating whether Telegram provided false data on its user base.
While Telegram has millions of users in South Korea, it ranks third in popularity behind local messaging app KakaoTalk and Instagram. Globally, Telegram faces increasing scrutiny for its role in enabling the spread of illicit content.
