Internet Giants Block Record Number of Illegal Sexual Content in South Korea | Be Korea-savvy

Internet Giants Block Record Number of Illegal Sexual Content in South Korea


Crack Down on Spy Cams"… Police to Intensify Illegal Filming Enforcement Through August (CG) (Image courtesy of Yonhap)

“Crack down on spy cams”… Police to intensify illegal filming enforcement through August (CG) (Image courtesy of Yonhap)

SEOUL, July 5 (Korea Bizwire)South Korea’s internet companies, including Naver, Kakao, and global platforms like Google, deleted or blocked over 180,000 illegal sexually explicit videos last year, more than double the number from the previous year, according to a government report released Friday.

The sharp increase in takedowns, which rose by 122 percent year-over-year, reflects a growing number of reports related to digital sex crimes, including deepfake pornography and child exploitation materials, as well as more proactive content moderation by tech companies.

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) unveiled its 2024 Transparency Report on the Handling of Illegal Filming Content, detailing how 81 domestic and international internet service providers responded to the circulation of unlawful material, including fabricated sexual videos and child sexual abuse content.

In total, internet firms received 231,261 reports of illegal material in 2024 and took action on 181,204 cases, either removing or blocking access to the content. The number of reported cases surged nearly 60 percent compared to the previous year.

The report assessed platform operators on various criteria, including procedures for handling reports, measures to prevent re-circulation, the designation and training of content monitoring personnel, and internal systems for content moderation.

KCC Chairperson Lee Jin-sook emphasized the growing threat posed by advanced AI-generated imagery, such as deepfake pornography. “As AI technology rapidly evolves, the risk of digital sex crimes is increasing,” she said. “To prevent secondary harm, robust intervention by internet service providers is crucial.”

The findings underscore the ongoing challenge of combating the spread of illicit content online and the increasing burden on tech firms to protect users in an era of sophisticated digital manipulation.

M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)

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