South Korea has become the latest country to ban deepfakes, citing national security concerns and the potential for social harm. The ban, which was announced by the Korean government, prohibits the creation, distribution, and possession of deepfake content that is deemed to be malicious or harmful.
Deepfakes, which use artificial intelligence (AI) to create realistic but fake audio, video, or images, have raised concerns globally about their potential to be used for malicious purposes, such as spreading misinformation, manipulating public opinion, or committing financial fraud.
The South Korean government has expressed concerns that deepfakes could be used to undermine national security, disrupt social order, or damage the country's reputation. The ban is aimed at preventing the spread of harmful deepfake content and protecting citizens from its potential harm.
Under the ban, individuals found to be creating, distributing, or possessing malicious deepfake content could face fines of up to 10 million won (approximately $8,000 USD) or imprisonment for up to five years.
The move by South Korea is part of a growing trend of governments around the world taking steps to regulate deepfakes and mitigate their potential harm.
