Key facts
- South Korea is considering allowing investigators to lawfully hack into websites distributing illegal sexual material.
- The proposed measure aims to combat digital sex crimes by enabling direct access to websites for content removal and evidence collection.
- This initiative is part of a joint response plan by the gender equality ministry, Korea Media and Communications Commission, and National Police Agency.
- Legislation will be revised to grant investigators these powers, with similar systems in place in Australia and Britain.
- The plan also includes criminalizing the creation of such websites, banning advertisements, and establishing a dedicated investigation team.
South Korea is considering a significant shift in its approach to combating digital sex crimes by potentially granting investigators the authority to lawfully hack into websites that distribute illegally filmed sexual material. This proposed measure, outlined in an inter-agency response plan involving the gender equality ministry, the Korea Media and Communications Commission, and the National Police Agency, aims to directly address the growing number of victims and the pervasive spread of exploitative content.
Under the proposed legislation, investigators would be empowered to access these websites to remove harmful material, thereby minimizing damage to victims and facilitating the collection of crucial evidence. Officials cited the successful implementation of similar warrant-based systems in Australia and Britain as precedents for this move. The plan also seeks to criminalize the act of opening websites that host sexually exploitative illegal material and establish a dedicated investigation team focused on tracking and deleting such content.
Authorities have identified a substantial number of websites containing illegal material, with a significant portion remaining active. The scale of the problem is underscored by the estimated millions of videos involving Korean victims on Korean-language websites. Since 2021, law enforcement has conducted crackdowns on numerous illegal websites, uncovering substantial criminal proceeds. Gender Equality Minister Won Min-kyong stated that the government would concentrate its policy capabilities on disabling these websites, which are identified as the primary source for the spread of illegal content.