South Korean police are moving to sharpen their capabilities against crimes that exploit artificial intelligence.
The Korean National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters announced Thursday that it would formally launch a master plan to upgrade its AI-manipulated content detection and analysis systems. "Crimes exploiting AI are evolving in many forms — from deepfake sex crimes to investment fraud and voice phishing," the agency said, adding that the initiative aims to build an AI ecosystem in which the public can feel safe.
Under the plan, police will pursue three key tasks: building a precision detection system for AI-manipulated content, upgrading automated analysis tools and techniques, and introducing dedicated AI forensic analysts while establishing an expert advisory group.
On the detection front, police will develop a precision system specifically targeting illegal AI-manipulated material. The agency currently uses a deepfake detection system introduced in 2024 and has been continuously improving its performance to suit domestic conditions. Research and development is also underway to adopt multimodal detection technology that extends scrutiny beyond video and images to cover audio and text. Police are additionally developing forensic tools capable of tracing the full chain of how AI-manipulated content was created and distributed.
Police also plan to station dedicated AI forensic analysts at police agencies across the country and expand specialized training for field investigators. The agency said it would collaborate with private-sector expert groups to share the latest technology trends and assess the capabilities of new programs.
Kim Jong-cheol, acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, said the police must adapt as AI-driven criminal methods evolve rapidly. "We will equip ourselves with advanced investigative capabilities to swiftly identify AI-generated fakes and effectively trace how they were created and spread, so the public can feel secure," he said.
arin@heraldcorp.com
