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South Korea moves to close loophole on AI-generated sexual images
Lawmakers proposed a bill to criminalize creating, distributing, and possessing AI-made sexually explicit material even if it does not depict a real person.
South Korea is working to close a legal loophole that, after a court ruling, allowed some people involved in sharing AI-generated pornography featuring fictional personas to avoid conviction. The push follows an acquittal by a court in Goyang, Gyeonggi province, in a case involving deepfake nude images shared in a Telegram chat room, according to SCMP Economy.
Prosecutors had sought punishment under a law that carries up to seven years in prison or a maximum fine of 50 million won, but the judge ruled that the victims were virtual rather than human. The court said there was no material confirming the image origin or synthesis method that would make it possible to determine that a real person was depicted, as reported by Dong-A Ilbo, according to SCMP Economy.
The verdict prompted lawmakers from South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party of Korea to propose legislation targeting AI-created sexually explicit content. A bill introduced by representative Huh Young and nine other lawmakers would criminalize the creation, distribution, and possession of such material made using artificial intelligence, even when it does not depict a real person, SCMP Economy reported.
The lawmakers pointed to how fast AI advances can make it easier to generate virtual people that are difficult to distinguish from real individuals. SCMP Economy said the proposal was supported by detailed review within a National Assembly subcommittee of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, citing The Korea Times.