The South Korean National Assembly recently passed a groundbreaking amendment to the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. The new law makes it illegal to view or possess sexually exploitative deepfakes, with offenders facing up to three years in prison or a hefty fine. Additionally, a separate bill was passed to criminalize the use of deepfakes to blackmail or coerce minors, with stringent penalties for offenders.
These legislative changes come in response to growing concerns about the proliferation of non-consensual sex abuse material online. The amended laws not only aim to deter individuals from creating or consuming illicit deepfakes but also provide support to victims of such crimes.
Representatives of 71 women’s rights groups championed the passage of these laws, advocating for the deletion and firewalling of non-consensual sex abuse material online. The amendments were met with strong support in the National Assembly, with 241 out of 249 lawmakers voting in favor.
These new laws mark a significant step forward in combating sexual crimes and protecting vulnerable individuals in South Korea.
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