South Korean police officer indicted for AI deepfake sex crimes

A serving police officer from the Dongdaemun Police Station in Seoul has been indicted under detention on six charges, including violations of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes. The individual, identified as Officer A, is accused of using artificial intelligence to create approximately 400 sexual deepfake videos using photos of acquaintances and distributing about 50 of them between March 2022 and August 2024.

Investigations revealed that the officer possessed a total of 5,600 illegal videos, consisting of roughly 1,600 child and adolescent sexual exploitation materials, 2,600 deepfake videos, and 1,300 illegally filmed videos. The officer had also been caught collecting and storing victims' facial photos for the purpose of creating these videos.

Notably, the suspect had previously received a conditional suspension of indictment for illegal filming in 2021. Despite this prior record, the individual joined the police force in April 2024 and continued the digital sex crimes throughout their employment. The Busan District Prosecutors' Office stated they will pursue strict sentencing to address the repetitive and persistent nature of these crimes involving the sexual exploitation of women and children.