South Korea's Broadcast Media Communication Deliberation Committee decided to block access to 64 overseas websites that can generate sexual deepfakes using photos of real people.

The panel said on Aug. 24 it held a communications deliberation subcommittee meeting and approved corrective action requests, including access blocks, against 64 overseas sites that generate pornography or deepfakes using AI.

Investigators found the sites allow users to upload photos of real people's faces or bodies to generate images or videos depicting sexual acts, or to create virtual pornography based on text entered by users.

Many of the sites support Korean and allow users to produce deepfakes and pornography with only small payments, it said. The panel said the risk is high because anyone can easily become a perpetrator or a victim of related crimes.

Under the current Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes, producing sexual fake videos can be punished by up to 7 years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won. Under the Information and Communications Network Act, distributing obscene material is punishable by up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won.

The panel said some sites state in their terms of service that generating sexual images without another person's consent is prohibited, but in practice users could create pornography using other people's photos without any meaningful restrictions.

A panel official said, "Once a sexual fake video is produced and distributed, it is difficult to recover from the harm." The official said, "We will continue monitoring domestic and overseas sites that distribute such information by abusing AI and respond strictly."