S. Korea employs AI to boost detection, removal of child sexual abuse material
What happened
South Korea's National Center for Digital Sexual Crime Response began using an artificial intelligence system in April to detect and remove online child sexual abuse material. The system monitors various online platforms in real time and flags suspected illegal content for review. Between April and September, the center identified over 96,000 instances of such material and notified platforms to take them down. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced plans to expand the system's coverage and improve its accuracy in 2025.
Key details
- The AI system was launched in April 2024.
- Average daily detections rose from 20.8 last year to 202.1 cases after implementation.
- 96,210 cases were found and reported for removal from April to September 2024.
- The system currently monitors 79 online platforms, with plans to increase to 139 in 2025.
- The center supported 10,637 people last year, including 3,052 victims under 20.
Why it matters
Online platforms in South Korea now face more frequent notifications to remove illegal child sexual abuse material, requiring faster response and compliance. Employees at the National Center for Digital Sexual Crime Response have a reduced manual workload due to automated detection, allowing them to process more cases. Victims of digital sex crimes, especially minors, may see quicker removal of harmful content and increased support as the system expands.