15 digital sex crime victims’ information exposed… Google "reviewing notice"

During the deletion request process, name and contact information are exposed to overseas research sites.

Kim Seon-min "Google must reveal specific victim notification plans"

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Hyunmin Yoo = In relation to the personal information exposure of victims of digital sex crimes, Google appears to be still reviewing whether to notify the victims of the information exposure.

This is an incident in which information, including the names and contact information of victims and support organizations who requested Google to delete digital sex crime material, was exposed on an overseas research project site collaborating with Google.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Korea Women's Human Rights Agency recognized this on August 25 and requested Google and the site to delete it, and requested an emergency review from the U.S. Visit Committee the following day.

According to data submitted by Google, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and the U.S. Visit Committee, Rep. Kim Seon-min of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, a member of the Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee of the National Assembly on the 7th, when asked about notification of victims and specific action plans, Google responded, "We are reviewing the possibility of notifying those affected by this issue."

Google did not provide a specific schedule or method for when and how to notify victims.

The number of victims of identification information exposed by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family increased from 13 as of the 28th of last month to 15 as of the 1st of this month. In addition to the victims included in the existing U.S. visit review committee measures, two additional people were identified who were directly reported by individuals.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced that it is providing support information to victims who have a history of receiving deletion support or monitoring at the Central Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center. However, it was not confirmed whether all 15 people were notified of the information exposure.

The U.S. Visit Committee stated that in the process of reviewing the illegality of the posting, victims are not separately notified of the damage caused, and that specialized organizations such as the Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center are in charge of counseling and legal support.

Rep. Kim said, “If the information submitted to delete the victim video is exposed again and the victim is not aware of the fact, he or she may miss the opportunity to receive necessary protection and support,” urging Google to disclose its specific victim notification plan.