A high school student has been referred to prosecutors for allegedly creating and distributing so-called "deepfake" pornography on social media using photographs of female peers.

The Cyber Investigation Unit of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency announced today (August 18) that it has forwarded high school student A to the prosecution without detention with a recommendation for indictment under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes (production and distribution of false video materials, etc.).

Student A is suspected of creating deepfake pornography by synthesizing photos of approximately 20 female peers with other videos and posting them on social media.

Investigations revealed that the posts uploaded to the account were exposed to an unspecified number of individuals.

Previously, the social media account operated by student A had been reported to another police station as well, but that investigative team reportedly registered the case as unsolved due to an inability to identify the suspect.

Subsequently, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency received additional reports and, while investigating, gathered clues to identify student A as the suspect.

A police official stated, "In the early stages of the investigation, no clues sufficient to identify the suspect were found, causing some confusion in the investigation," adding, "As related case reports accumulated thereafter, we were able to secure evidence to identify the suspect."

(Photo provided by Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, Yonhap News)