AI deepfakes that simulate dead people risk ‘haunting’ relatives, researchers warn
IndependentMAY 13 2024
Sexually explicit "deepfake" images, including those of children and generated using artificial intelligence, are flooding South Korea's chat groups, worrying authorities.
Hundreds of schools and universities, whose students had allegedly become victims — though unconfirmed — of deepfake sex crimes, were named Sunday on X.
South Korean media reported one Telegram chatroom with around 220K members, sharing morphed images of students, teachers, and military personnel.
South Korea's deepfake pornography crisis has exposed the dark underbelly of the nation's digital landscape, where social media and messaging platforms' strong encryption and non-cooperation with law enforcement have inadvertently created a haven for cybercriminals engaging in digital sex crimes.
The potential for misuse aside, AI-powered deepfake technology is simply another tool for creative expression. Like with many other areas, the ethical line can easily be drawn at consent and intent. The focus must now be on establishing norms, laws, and standards governing their use, balancing innovation with individual rights and public trust.