Cheap AI tools fuel teen-driven rise in deepfake sex crimes in South Korea
The article reports a sharp rise in deepfake sex crimes in South Korea driven largely by teenagers using cheap and easily accessible AI tools. Low-cost apps and online services now allow users, many of them minors, to create realistic sexual deepfakes by combining classmates’ or acquaintances’ photos with explicit material in just minutes, without technical expertise.
Police and experts warn that this trend is spreading rapidly in schools, with victims often being teenage girls whose images are taken from social media. The deepfakes are then shared privately, circulated in group chats, or posted online, causing severe emotional trauma, bullying, and long-term reputational harm.
Authorities note that many perpetrators do not fully understand the legal consequences or the seriousness of their actions, treating the creation and sharing of deepfake pornography as a prank or entertainment. However, South Korea has strict laws against the production and distribution of sexual imagery without consent, and several teens have already been arrested or referred for prosecution.
The rise in teen-driven deepfake abuse highlights gaps in regulation, platform moderation, and digital education. Advocacy groups are calling for stronger prevention measures in schools, faster removal processes by platforms, and updated legislation to address AI-enabled sexual crimes.
