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South Korea Minister Says Google Must Take Legal Responsibility for Data Leak Affecting Digital Sex Crime Victims

South Korea's gender equality minister says Google must take legal responsibility for any violations tied to a leak of personal data belonging to digital sex crime victims, after information on a foreign research project website was deleted at the government's request.

AI News Feed · 2026-09-11 11:48

The personal information had been exposed from a foreign research project website that was collaborating with Google, according to the report. It was deleted only after the South Korean government requested its removal. The exposed data contained personal details of victims who had asked for illegally filmed videos to be removed.

At a press briefing, Won said a platform with Google's global influence carries an even heavier responsibility to protect and safely handle sensitive information about victims. "If any legal violations are found, Google must take legal responsibility," she said. She added that the issue should not be passed over lightly as a simple system error or mistake. Google must take the gravity of the issue seriously and take a responsible stance before the victims and the public, she said.

Won said her ministry is working with the Korea Media and Communications Commission to check for any legal violations, including possible breaches of the sexual violence punishment law. The review is examining whether the leak and the handling of the victims' information violated South Korean law, according to her remarks.

Google has apologized over the leak. The company said it asked the operator to delete the information as soon as it was brought to its attention. According to Won, Google has also pledged not to share any deletion requests from South Korea with outside parties as part of its follow-up measures.

The leak involved victims who had requested the removal of illegally filmed videos, the report said. Their personal information appeared on the foreign research project website that was working with Google. The government's request led to the data being deleted, but the minister said that did not settle the question of legal responsibility.

Won's comments place the focus on how a global technology company handles sensitive data connected to victims of digital sex crimes. The Gender Equality Ministry and the Korea Media and Communications Commission are continuing to examine the case for violations under relevant laws, including the sexual violence punishment law.

Google's apology and its pledge on South Korean deletion requests were described by Won as follow-up measures. The company said the information was deleted after it learned of the exposure, according to the report.