In a latest development, South Korean authorities have launched a probe into the popular messaging app Telegram.
In a latest development, South Korean authorities have launched a probe into the popular messaging app Telegram, amid allegations of the platform being used for the dissemination of illicit content.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has initiated a preliminary investigation into Telegram, focusing on allegations of the platform "abetting deepfake sex crimes," as reported by the local news agency Yonhap News on September 3rd.
Woo Jong-soo, the head of South Korea's National Office of Investigation, confirmed that the police have launched an internal investigation into Telegram's corporate entity before officially registering the inquiry.
He noted that South Korea is following in the footsteps of France, which had previously started a similar preliminary investigation.
The investigation is driven by concerns over the platform's alleged role in facilitating online sex crimes. According to Woo, the charges against Telegram involve "abetting this crime."
However, the authorities face challenges in the investigation due to Telegram's unwillingness to provide user account information to law enforcement agencies, both in South Korea and internationally.
To address this issue, the South Korean police are planning to collaborate with French investigators and other international law enforcement bodies to find effective methods for probing Telegram's activities.
This marks the first time that the South Korean police have launched an investigation directly targeting Telegram's corporate entity. The move comes as the country grapples with the growing problem of online sex crimes, which prompted President Yoon Suk Yeol to call for a crackdown on the issue in August.
While Telegram is not among the most widely used messaging apps in South Korea, with only around 3 million monthly active users as of April 2024, the platform's perceived role in facilitating illicit activities has drawn the attention of authorities.
The investigation into Telegram is part of a broader global crackdown on the platform, with France and India also launching their own probes following the arrest of Telegram's founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, in France last month.
The European Union is also reportedly investigating whether Telegram provided false user data for the EU market.
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