25.04.02.Today News : 15 people arrested for creating and distributing 'Inha University deepfakes' / “I'm about to fall” while carrying a critically ill neonate

1. 15 people arrested for creating and distributing 'Inha University deepfakes'

Fifteen men have been arrested by the police for creating and distributing deepfake (AI-generated synthetic) photos and videos using pictures of female students from Inha University.

The Cyber Crime Investigation Unit of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 2nd that they had arrested and detained eight individuals, including A (24, a graduate student), who operated the Telegram group, and B (31, a graduate student), who managed it. Seven others, including C (25, an office worker), were booked without detention on charges of editing, distributing, and possessing fake videos under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, as well as defamation.

Victim's identifying information

The 15 individuals, including A, are accused of using photos of 17 female Inha University students to create and distribute more than 90 deepfake images and videos in a Telegram chat room on approximately 270 occasions between November 2022 and August 2024.

A, a graduate of Inha University, created so-called "humiliation rooms" on Telegram, naming them with derogatory terms such as "Inha University prostitute ○○○ (student's name)" and "Inha University ○○○ public exposure room." He synthesized victims' faces onto nude images of other women and distributed these manipulated photos and videos. Investigations revealed that A had been committing these crimes since his time as a student at Inha University.

B, as an administrator, had the authority to draft messages, block users, and collaborated with accomplices to collect victims' photos and personal information from social media platforms like Instagram and Naver blogs. They used this data to create and distribute fake videos in the humiliation rooms. Within these rooms, participants engaged in explicit discussions about the images and videos, further demeaning the victims.

The creators of the humiliation rooms granted administrator privileges to those who actively participated in the crimes. They encouraged members to share the fake videos or Telegram links in other chat rooms and even operated backup rooms to continue activities in case the original rooms were deleted.

The Incheon police launched an investigation in April 2023 after receiving reports from victims. A dedicated team of 26 officers was formed to track down the perpetrators. Over 80 search and seizure operations were conducted, and international cooperation with Telegram was sought to identify and arrest A and his accomplices.

A police official stated, "The suspects thoroughly used only Telegram and studied investigative techniques to avoid detection. They were convinced they would never be caught, but no crime is perfect, and they were ultimately arrested." The official emphasized, "Deepfake crimes are not harmless pranks driven by curiosity; they destroy people's dignity and cause irreversible harm. They must never be committed." He also urged cyber sexual violence victims to report incidents immediately, reassuring them that they are not at fault and can receive support from investigative authorities.

The Incheon police plan to strengthen victim protection by working with the Digital Sexual Crime Victim Support Center to delete and block illicit videos, provide psychological counseling, and offer legal assistance.

One-line summary : Fifteen men were arrested for creating and distributing deepfake videos of female Inha University students. The police conducted international investigations to track down the perpetrators and plan to enhance victim protection efforts.

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2. “I'm about to fall” while carrying a critically ill neonate

A nurse at a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) sparked child abuse controversy after posting inappropriate captions alongside photos of newborns on social media. The Korean Nurses Association condemned the act, stating that it "seriously undermines public trust in the nursing profession."

On the 2nd, Daegu Catholic University Hospital revealed that it had identified evidence suggesting a NICU nurse had mistreated newborns. The nurse had posted a picture of a baby resting on her lap with the caption, "My anger issues are flaring up." Another photo, where she was holding a baby, was captioned, "I feel like dropping the baby." Additionally, a picture showing the baby’s face was accompanied by the text, "What time is it? Please just go to sleep."

These posts quickly spread online, triggering widespread outrage. Comments on an online forum included, "My baby is in the NICU, and this makes my blood boil" and "This person should never be allowed to care for babies again."

As the controversy intensified, the nurse submitted her resignation. A hospital representative stated, "She has been with us for less than a year. We have not yet accepted her resignation and are currently discussing disciplinary measures while keeping her off duty."

Nursing organizations expressed deep regret over the incident. The Korean Nurses Association released a statement emphasizing, "Nurses are entrusted with protecting and caring for patients' lives, and they bear an even greater responsibility when it comes to the most vulnerable newborns." They pledged to ensure a thorough investigation and strict disciplinary actions.

The association also vowed to work with the government and medical institutions to develop preventive measures and enhance ethical training and patient protection awareness among nurses.

One-line summary : A NICU nurse caused public outrage with inappropriate social media posts about newborns, leading her to submit her resignation. The Korean Nurses Association promised a thorough investigation and stronger preventive measures.