South Korea Investigates Telegram: Which Countries Have Taken Legal Action?

Key Takeaways

• South Korean police are investigating Telegram over the distribution of sexually explicit deepfakes.
• The number of countries where the app is either banned or under investigation has risen sharply in 2023.
• Actions against Telegram range from regulatory probes to total bans.

Police in South Korea have launched an investigation into Telegram over concerns that the app may have facilitated online sex crimes. The move echoes a similar law enforcement crackdown in France that has seen CEO Pavel Durov indicted on charges related to child pornography and drug trafficking. 

However, France and South Korea are just the latest countries to have taken legal action against Telegram, which is embroiled in fierce debates over privacy, freedom of expression, and criminal liability. 

South Korean Police Launch Telegram Probe

As first reported  by the Yonhap news agency on Monday, Sept. 2, South Korean police have initiated an investigation into Telegram to determine if the private messaging app has been involved in the distribution of sexually explicit deepfake content. 

The move comes amid growing public outrage over the widespread circulation of non-consensual explicit deepfakes on the platform, particularly those featuring Korean women.

Following an urgent meeting on digital sex crimes presided over by the Chair of the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) Ryu Hee-Lim last week, Telegram has been drawn into a multi-agency push to tackle the issue. 

While the issue of deepfake pornography is more recent, criminals’ use of Telegram has long been a cause for concern among authorities, many of whom have accused the company of being complicit. 

The various governments that investigated, banned or otherwise restricted the use of Telegram range from authoritarian regimes like Iran and China to liberal democracies like France and South Korea.

Countries That Have Banned/Restricted Telegram

Countries That Have Investigated Telegram

Telegram’s Uncertain Future

Whereas once it was only autocratic governments that cracked down on the app, the number of countries where Telegram faces potential restrictions has grown significantly in 2024. 

With authorities worldwide increasingly challenging Telegram’s legal viability within their respective jurisdictions, the platform’s future remains tied to its current legal woes. 

About the Author

James Morales

Although his background is in crypto and FinTech news, these days, James likes to roam across CCN’s editorial breadth, focusing mostly on digital technology. Having always been fascinated by the latest innovations, he uses his platform as a journalist to explore how new technologies work, why they matter and how they might shape our future.

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