South Korea Cracks Down on Deepfake Crimes with New Legislation

South Korean lawmakers passed a bill criminalizing the possession or viewing of sexually explicit deepfake content, introducing stringent penalties including up to three years in prison and significant fines. The legislation responds to the surge in illegal deepfake creation and distribution, with worldwide implications as countries grapple with the same issue.

South Korean lawmakers on Thursday passed a groundbreaking bill that criminalizes the possession or viewing of sexually explicit deepfake images and videos. The new law sets stiff penalties, potentially including up to three years in prison and fines reaching 30 million won ($22,600).

The move follows a public outcry over Telegram group chats in which illegal deepfake content was widely shared, leading to calls for tougher sanctions. Under existing laws, creating such content for distribution is punishable by up to five years in prison or a 50 million won fine, but the new legislation will increase the maximum sentence to seven years.

The bill, pending approval from President Yoon Suk Yeol, comes as South Korean police report a dramatic increase in deepfake sex crime cases—over 800 this year alone. The problem extends globally, with other countries, including the U.S., considering similar measures to combat the proliferation of deepfakes.

(With inputs from agencies.)