Safety concerns over AI character chat services popular with teenagers were raised at a parliamentary audit, with lawmakers saying harmful content can be generated even when youth protection features are enabled. They cited self-harm and suicide-related conversations and sexual exploitation scenes involving minor characters. Lawmakers also criticised delays in reviewing harmful content complaints and questioned the effectiveness of industry self-regulation, calling for clearer age and usage limits and stronger safeguards.

South Korean lawmakers at a parliamentary audit criticised online platforms for failing to promptly block or remove drug sales and prostitution-brokering posts and for weak victim-protection systems. They also raised concerns over youth safeguards on AI character chat services and delays in government reviews. Officials and company representatives discussed limits on local authority at global platforms, cases of exposed victim information in Google takedown requests, Telegram’s response system, and upcoming decisions on in-app payment fines and a completed probe into KT.