Abstract

Deepfake technology, which utilizes artificial intelligence and deep learning to manipulate images, audio, and video, poses significant societal risks, including political propaganda, financial fraud, and public opinion manipulation. However, South Korea’s current response primarily focuses on preventing digital sex crimes and election interference, lacking comprehensive measures such as platform accountability, the application of artificial intelligence detection technology, and media literacy education. Therefore, this study examines and evaluates the legal, technical, and social responses of the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom to provide policy insights for South Korea. The findings indicate that major countries impose obligations on platform operators to detect and remove deepfake content while employing artificial intelligence-based verification technologies to prevent the spread of disinformation. In contrast, South Korea’s approach relies on fragmented regulations, highlighting the need to establish a more comprehensive legal framework and implement artificial intelligence detection technologies. Based on these findings, this study suggests clarifying platform accountability, strengthening artificial intelligence detection technologies through legal and institutional support, expanding media literacy education, and developing a citizen-driven disinformation monitoring system. This study provides policy recommendations for South Korea to effectively combat the spread of deepfake-based disinformation and establish a trustworthy digital information environment.