BMCRC Mobilizes Full Response to Google’s Exposure of Digital Sex Crime Victim Information

Shared with International Organizations such as INHOPE,
Measures Taken to Prevent Further Harm

Urged 12 Companies Including Meta and TikTok to Establish Information Protection Systems

The Broadcasting Media and Communications Review Committee (BMCRC) announced on September 13 that it has launched efforts to prevent additional harm through domestic and international cooperative networks regarding the incident in which Google exposed the personal information of victims, submitted during the process of deleting digital sex crime content, to external organizations.

Koh Kwang-hun, Chairman of the Broadcasting Media and Communications Review Committee. Yonhap News Agency

The BMCRC explained that immediately after becoming aware of the incident on August 26, it worked with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to directly request deletion from Google and the problematic websites, while also conducting an emergency review. A total of 42 posts were requested for deletion from the problematic website, including 16 cases where deletion was requested before review and access was subsequently blocked, among the requests submitted by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Additionally, the BMCRC called on Google to delete search keywords related to the Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center as well as search results related to the BMCRC.

The committee is also taking proactive measures to counter potential additional harm by leveraging international cooperative networks. On the previous day, the BMCRC shared details of the case with three international organizations: the International Association of Internet Hotlines (INHOPE), the Global Online Safety Regulators Network (GOSRN), and the International Institute of Communications (IIC), and requested information on similar cases or trends from member countries. The BMCRC also sought cooperation from the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), an agency that collaborates on matters related to digital sex crime information.

Additionally, the BMCRC conveyed the seriousness of the situation to 12 overseas operators subject to correction requests, including Google, Meta Korea, X Korea, and TikTok Korea, as well as to Cloudflare, a global content delivery network (CDN) provider, strongly urging them to establish robust information management and protection systems. Emphasizing that sensitive information such as the personal details of digital sex crime victims is included in deletion request documents, the BMCRC insisted that such data must be thoroughly managed so that it is not shared externally or redistributed.

Goh Kwangheon, Chairman of the BMCRC, stated, "This incident is a grave matter that has turned away a helping hand from victims of digital sex crimes," adding, "We will do our utmost to resolve the issue swiftly and prevent further harm, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and domestic and international partner agencies and businesses."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.