🚨 AI Intelligence System

Today Korean Social News for Beginners | 2025.11.12

0️⃣ Police Drug Tracking Technology and Privacy Concerns

📌 Police Introduce 'AI Intelligence System' to Track Drug Trafficking on Telegram

💬 The police have decided to create an 'intelligence system' using artificial intelligence (AI) to track online drug distribution through closed messengers like Telegram. The National Police Agency has allocated a total of 720 million won for next year's budget, including 420 million won for research and 300 million won for equipment purchases. The system works by having AI learn and analyze drug supply chain patterns to detect suspicious transactions, which investigators then use as leads. Next year's budget for investigating drug-related organized crime has increased by about 13% from this year's 8.364 billion won to 9.458 billion won. The police also plan to strengthen their cyber crime response capabilities by developing AI systems for analyzing the dark web and algorithms for detecting deepfakes. However, concerns about privacy violations have been raised regarding AI analyzing personal messenger conversations, and there are calls for verification of technical reliability and legal grounds.

💡 Summary

• The AI intelligence system is an investigation method that automatically detects online drug trafficking using artificial intelligence.
• Its purpose is to track illegal transactions on closed messengers like Telegram and the dark web.
• The key issue is balancing investigation efficiency with personal information protection.

1️⃣ Definition

AI Intelligence System refers to an investigation method that uses artificial intelligence technology to automatically detect and analyze clues of crimes occurring online. While investigators previously had to directly monitor the internet and messengers to find criminal evidence, AI systems can quickly analyze vast amounts of data and automatically catch suspicious patterns.

The police AI intelligence system is mainly used to detect illegal activities such as drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and digital sex crimes on closed messengers like Telegram, the dark web, and social media. When AI learns and identifies suspicious activities by detecting specific keywords, transaction patterns, and networks between accounts, investigators can begin actual investigations based on this information.

💡 Why Is This Important?

• As illegal transactions like drug trafficking move online, traditional investigation methods have become difficult to respond with.
• AI technology can greatly increase investigation efficiency and block crimes early.
• Since it handles personal communication content, clear legal and ethical standards are essential to avoid privacy violations.
• It represents a paradigm shift in investigation techniques to respond to advanced crimes.

2️⃣ Background and Issues of AI Intelligence System

📕 Surge in Online Drug Trafficking

• Illegal transactions through closed messengers are increasing. Key situations include:

  • Drug sellers and buyers connect anonymously through encrypted messengers like Telegram.
  • Attempts to avoid tracking by using the dark web instead of the regular internet are increasing.
  • Crime methods are rapidly shifting from traditional face-to-face transactions to non-face-to-face online transactions.
  • Social concerns are growing as teenagers and young people have increased access to online drugs.

• Limitations of traditional investigation methods have been revealed. Key problems include:

  • The volume of data is too large for investigators to monitor the internet and messengers one by one.
  • Criminals are evading tracking using encryption, anonymity, and overseas servers.
  • Criminal organizations continue to create new accounts and channels, making enforcement difficult.
  • Rapid response is difficult due to manpower shortages, allowing crimes to spread.

📕 How the AI Intelligence System Works

• AI learns crime patterns and detects unusual signs. Key functions include:

  • Machine learning algorithms learn keywords, sentence patterns, and transaction methods related to drug trafficking.
  • Multiple online channels are monitored in real-time to automatically catch suspicious activities.
  • Networks between accounts are analyzed to understand the structure of criminal organizations.
  • High-priority clues are provided to investigators to enable efficient investigations.

• Dark web and deepfake response are also being promoted. Key plans include:

  • Developing AI systems for dark web analysis to track illegal transactions on anonymous networks.
  • Blocking AI-based digital sex crimes with deepfake detection algorithms.
  • Technology to track criminal money flows through virtual asset transaction analysis is also under research.
  • The National Police Agency has increased next year's budget by about 13% compared to this year.

📕 Personal Information Protection and Legal Issues

• Concerns about privacy violations are being raised. Key concerns include:

  • Privacy may be violated in the process of AI analyzing personal messenger conversations or online activities.
  • The Communications Privacy Act prohibits wiretapping communication content without a court warrant.
  • There are criticisms about lack of transparency in what data the AI system collects and how it analyzes it.
  • There are concerns about the possibility of collecting information from ordinary citizens unrelated to crimes.

• Technical reliability and possibility of misjudgment are also issues. Key problems include:

  • AI may mistake normal conversations for crimes or miss actual crimes.
  • Machine learning algorithm bias may lead to unfair surveillance of specific groups.
  • It may be difficult to adopt AI judgments as legal evidence because the reasoning is unclear.
  • There are concerns about confusion due to insufficient legal and institutional standards compared to the speed of technological development.

💡 Key Issues of AI Intelligence System

1. Privacy Violation: Concerns about privacy violations from analyzing personal communication content
2. Legal Grounds: Whether the Communications Privacy Act is followed and the scope of warrant system application
3. Technical Reliability: Possibility of AI misjudgment and algorithm bias problems
4. Lack of Transparency: Opacity in system operation methods and data processing procedures
5. Balance Between Rights and Safety: Harmony between crime prevention effects and basic rights protection

3️⃣ Pros and Cons and Improvement Directions

✅ Position Supporting AI Intelligence System

• Crime prevention and investigation efficiency greatly improve. Key arguments include:

  • AI technology can quickly analyze vast online data and block crimes early.
  • It can effectively respond to advanced crimes that are difficult to handle with traditional investigation methods.
  • It contributes to protecting social safety by preventing serious crimes like drug trafficking.
  • More crimes can be detected with limited investigation personnel, making it efficient.

• Human rights violations can be minimized by following proper legal procedures. Key claims include:

  • Privacy issues can be resolved by obtaining court warrants and following proper procedures.
  • Since AI only provides suspicious clues and final judgment is made by investigators, it is not excessive violation.
  • Society's safety and potential victims should take priority over criminals' rights.
  • Many countries overseas are also adopting similar technologies, in line with international trends.

✅ Position Opposing AI Intelligence System

• Concerns about personal information violations and surveillance society are significant. Key concerns include:

  • AI analyzing personal private conversations itself may violate the constitutional freedom of communication.
  • There is a danger of moving toward a surveillance society where information from ordinary citizens unrelated to crimes is collected.
  • The warrant system required by the Communications Privacy Act may be operated formally.
  • It is difficult to completely eliminate the risk of misuse of collected data.

• Technical limitations and possibility of misjudgment exist. Key problems include:

  • AI may not accurately understand context and mistake normal conversations for crimes.
  • Algorithm bias may cause specific age groups or communities to be unfairly suspected.
  • Indiscriminate introduction while technology is not perfect may only increase human rights violations.
  • Low transparency of AI judgment makes its reliability as legal evidence questionable.

✅ Reasonable System Improvement Directions

• Clear legal standards and procedures must be established. Key tasks include:

  • The operating scope and procedures of the AI intelligence system must be clearly defined by law.
  • Court warrant review should be strengthened and the scope of collectible data should be strictly limited.
  • Data retention periods and deletion procedures should be specified to prevent misuse.
  • An independent supervisory body should be established to ensure transparency in system operation.

• Technical reliability and transparency must be increased. Key measures include:

  • The accuracy and bias of AI algorithms should be regularly verified and improved.
  • Misjudgment cases should be analyzed to continuously update the system.
  • Explainable AI technology that can explain AI's reasoning should be introduced.
  • An advisory committee with experts and civil society participation should be formed for technical verification.

4️⃣ Related Terms

🔎 Narcotics Control Act

• The Narcotics Control Act strictly regulates the manufacture, distribution, and use of drugs.
  • This law is the basic legislation on the management and enforcement of narcotics, psychotropic drugs, marijuana, and other drugs. It prohibits illegal manufacture, import, export, sale, possession, and use of narcotics and imposes severe penalties for violations. All acts involving narcotics are considered crimes except for legitimate medical use.
  • Key contents of this law include: First, it strictly limits who can handle narcotics. Only medical institutions, pharmacies, and research institutions can handle them with permission. Second, illegal sale or administration can result in up to life imprisonment. Third, it provides treatment and rehabilitation programs for drug addicts. Fourth, it operates a system to thoroughly track and manage drug distribution routes.
  • The AI intelligence system is a technical means to help enforce this law. It enables investigative agencies to respond quickly by detecting illegal online drug transactions early. However, legal procedures must be strictly followed to avoid violating individuals' basic rights during investigations.

🔎 Communications Privacy Act

• The Communications Privacy Act protects personal communication content.
  • The Communications Privacy Act protects all forms of communication content including mail, phone calls, and internet communications, and prohibits wiretapping or disclosing others' communications without just cause. It is a law that embodies the constitutional freedom of communication, and even government agencies cannot wiretap communications without a court warrant.
  • Core contents of the law include: First, communication wiretapping is only possible with court permission. It is limited to serious crimes such as national security and drug crimes. Second, parties must be notified of wiretapping after the fact. Third, collected communication data must only be used for criminal investigation purposes and cannot be used for other purposes. Fourth, illegally collected evidence has no evidential value in court.
  • This law becomes a key issue when the AI intelligence system analyzes messenger conversations like Telegram. Whether AI collecting and analyzing communication content constitutes wiretapping and whether a court warrant is needed is controversial. Police claim they only collect public information or proceed legally with warrants, but civic groups raise privacy concerns. Clear legal standards and procedures are urgently needed.

🔎 Dark Web

• The dark web is an internet space with guaranteed anonymity where illegal activities are frequent.
  • The dark web is an internet area not exposed to regular search engines and accessible only through special browsers like Tor. It provides complete anonymity by encrypting and routing users' IP addresses through multiple stages. Originally developed for free information exchange avoiding censorship, it has become a hotbed of illegal activities due to anonymity.
  • Major illegal activities on the dark web include: First, drug trafficking accounts for the largest portion. Drugs are bought and sold anonymously and paid for with virtual assets. Second, illegal weapons, forged IDs, and hacking tools are traded. Third, leaked personal information is sold and hacking services are provided. Fourth, serious criminal content like child sexual exploitation material is distributed.
  • Police AI intelligence systems are also used for dark web analysis. Although the dark web is difficult to track due to high anonymity, AI can find clues to identify criminals by analyzing transaction patterns, languages used, and payment methods. However, actual enforcement is not easy due to high technical difficulty and need for international cooperation. Dark web response technology is being developed worldwide, and Korea is also strengthening its AI-based tracking capabilities.

🔎 Deepfake Detection Algorithm

• Deepfake detection algorithm is technology to find fake videos created by AI.
  • Deepfake is technology that uses artificial intelligence to synthesize human faces or voices to create fake videos that look real. Initially used in movies or entertainment, it is now being misused for creating sexual exploitation material by synthesizing celebrities' faces without permission, spreading false news, and fraud crimes. It is emerging as a serious problem especially in digital sex crimes.
  • How deepfake detection algorithms work: First, AI analyzes facial movements, eye blinking, lip movements, etc. in videos to find unnatural points. Second, video metadata is examined to detect editing traces. Third, consistency of physical characteristics like lighting, shadows, and colors is verified. Fourth, detection accuracy is improved by learning numerous deepfake cases with machine learning.
  • Police are developing deepfake detection algorithms as part of the AI intelligence system. The goal is to automatically scan sexual exploitation material distributed online to determine whether it's deepfake, protect victims early, and quickly arrest criminals. However, since deepfake generation technology continues to evolve, detection algorithms must also be continuously updated. Along with technological development, stronger legal punishment for deepfake crimes is also being discussed.

5️⃣ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Does the AI intelligence system monitor everyone's messenger conversations?

A: No, it only analyzes cases with specific criminal suspicions through legal procedures.

• The AI intelligence system does not randomly monitor all conversations of ordinary citizens. Police collect public online information centered on keywords or patterns related to specific crimes like drug trafficking. For example, AI analyzes publicly accessible information like open Telegram channels or social media posts that anyone can see to find accounts with criminal suspicions. If private conversation content between individuals needs to be examined, a court warrant must be obtained according to the Communications Privacy Act.
• However, there are concerns because it is not transparently disclosed how far AI technically collects and analyzes information. While police state they follow legal procedures, civic groups are wary of the possibility of expanded surveillance scope. Therefore, clear legal standards and an independent oversight system are needed. For ordinary citizens, unless they distribute illegal content online or participate in crime-related conversations, they are unlikely to be directly affected by the AI intelligence system.

Q: Could innocent people be investigated due to AI misjudgment?

A: It's possible, but since final judgment is made by investigators, misjudgment risk can be reduced.

• AI is technology that probabilistically finds suspicious patterns, so it's not perfect. For example, AI might mistake it for a crime when someone uses drug-related terms as a joke or talks about purchasing legal pharmaceuticals. However, AI only provides clues, and investigators determine whether there is actual criminal suspicion through additional investigation. Therefore, just because AI extracts a suspicious account doesn't mean someone is immediately arrested or punished.
• However, there is risk that innocent people may experience inconvenience or reputational damage during the investigation process due to AI misjudgment. To prevent this, procedures are needed to improve AI algorithm accuracy, have investigators carefully review, and quickly delete incorrect information. Also, explainable AI technology that can explain the basis of AI judgment should be introduced to ensure transparency. If you are investigated unfairly, you can get help from the National Human Rights Commission or legal experts.

Q: Do other countries also use AI for investigations?

A: Yes, the US, UK, China and other countries are adopting AI investigation technology.

• The US FBI and Department of Homeland Security use AI to track terrorism, drug trafficking, child sexual exploitation, etc. They identify criminal organization networks through big data analysis and identify suspects with facial recognition technology. UK's London police use AI to analyze CCTV footage for crime prevention and track violent organizations through social media monitoring. China tracks criminals in real-time with extensive facial recognition and data analysis systems, but faces human rights violation controversies due to excessive surveillance.
• Europe is cautious about AI investigations, prioritizing personal information protection. The EU strictly limits personal information collection and use with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and is recently strengthening transparency and responsibility for high-risk AI systems through AI regulation laws. Countries are trying to find a balance between crime response effectiveness and human rights protection. Korea should also establish legal and ethical foundations for AI investigation technology by referring to international standards.

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