Safety Report/Enforcement
General Chat
The protection of users’ privacy is the highest priority of KakaoTalk’s philosophy.
In order to respect users’ privacy, KakaoTalk does not view messages or contents users exchange in KakaoTalk chatrooms. If users use the “Report” feature to report problematic messages or contents within the service, service restrictions are applied after decisions are made based on related laws, and whether the messages or contents in question violate our Terms of Service or Operation Policy.
Friends are the foundation of our chat messaging service. Therefore, users can report any messages or invites to chats that are sent from anyone other than their registered friends. Service restriction measures are also applied to any confirmed cases of serious violations, such as transmitting obscene contents, threatening the safety of other users, and sending illegal spam messages or contents.
Measures are applied to reported contents, which is quickly screened by expert reviewers and our Automated Monitoring System. Systems are being enhanced to provide quicker reviews to protect regular users from those who violate policies. Continuous improvements are also being made to the Operation Policy and detailed review guidelines by analyzing reported contents, user complaints and digital safety issues.
This report contains data on measures that were imposed on reports made about KakaoTalk chats, Profiles, Boards, Calendars and Team Chat Links.
Summary
In the first half of 2024, more than 153K accounts were subject to service restrictions in General Chat.
The breakdown of reasons for service restriction types are as follows: scam (e.g., imposters) at 59%; illegal spam (e.g., gambling) at 37%; and obscenity (e.g., pornography) at 4%.
As for scams, KakaoTalk has reinforced its regulatory standards to detect types of fraudulent messages disguised as promotional events for posting online store reviews or recruiting part-time reviewers and focus groups. KakaoTalk has also reinforced its regulatory standards in response to the increase in reports of romance scammers, who had primarily sent messages by translating into Korean, but have now started to chat in foreign languages like English. Other types such as sextortion and investment scams are consistently being reported, and Kakao continues to analyze reported messages and content to strengthen detailed regulatory standards accordingly.
How many accounts were restricted from KakaoTalk Chats, Profiles, Boards, Calendars and Team Chat Links because they were reported?
| Period | Accounts |
|---|---|
| Jan - Jun 2024 | 153,877 |
In order to respond to spams that are sent without the receiving individual’s consent, KakaoTalk enforces measures that temporarily restricts accounts, that have been reported by multiple users, from sending messages (Ensure Stability and Reliability > A Large Number of Reports Accumulated), and also prohibits the act of inviting other users to group chatroom in order to send spams (Ensure Stability and Reliability > Transmit Advertising Information for Commercial Purposes).
The above data contains the number of accounts that have been restricted from using the service following the reviewer’s review, the number of accounts that have been imposed with temporary messaging suspensions due to reports filed by other multiple users, and the number of accounts that have been restricted from using the service because they invited other users.
Why were accounts restricted from KakaoTalk Chats, Profiles, Boards, Calendars and Team Chat Links?
| Policy | Accounts |
|---|---|
| Fraud・Impersonation | 90,444 |
| Illegal Spam, Including Gambling | 56,445 |
| Obscene・Sexual Behavior | 6,988 |
KakaoTalk offers the "Globe Signal" and "Stranger Signal" features to protect users from phishing crimes. Users’ reports and complaints are utilized to continuously analyze various fraud and impersonation patterns, such as impersonating family, friends, government or financial agencies, sextortion and romance scams, and to prepare guidelines which are used to respond to such frauds and impersonations (User Safety > Criminal Acts and Conspiracy).
However, there are cases where it is difficult to identify frauds and impersonations with reports alone. Additional measures, including the Fraud⋅Impersonation Reportopen a new window inquiry channel or requests from external agencies, such as the Korean National Police Agency, are implemented in these complex instances.
Illegal Spam, Including GamblingKakao is taking strict measures against the act of sending illegal commercial advertising information via KakaoTalk(Ensure Stability and Reliability > Transmit advertising information for commercial purposes). To detect and address such abnormal activities, Kakao is continuously implementing various safeguards to reinforce logical security and prevent service abuse. Restrictions are imposed not only when spam is sent directly, but also when users invite others to group chat rooms to assist in sending spam, or when illegal spam is sent via SMS or other means to promote KakaoTalk profiles or chatrooms.
In addition, the use of KakaoTalk as a medium or means of communication for gambling and other games of chance or promoting gambling sites or services via KakaoTalk is strictly prohibited (User Safety > Criminal acts and conspiracy). If such gambling activities are confirmed through reports, access to the entire KakaoTalk service is immediately and permanently restricted.
Obscene・Sexual BehaviorExposed male or female private parts (including in cartoons, illustrations, and other expressive materials), or contents that shows or depicts sexual activities while exposing male and/or female private parts, and documents or links that include such contents are all considered obscene information. Kakao immediately restricts accounts that share obscene information from using all KakaoTalk services (Objectionable or Sensitive Information > Information on Excessive Body Exposure and Sexual Activity).
How quickly were measures imposed on contents reported in KakaoTalk Chats, Profiles, Boards, Calendars and Team Chat Links?
- Less than one hour
- 96.0%
- Less than one hour
- 96.0%
- 1 to 4 hours
- 비율 적음
- 4 to 8 hours
- 비율 적음
- More than 8 hours
- 비율 적음
| Processing Time | Content Ratio |
|---|---|
| Less than one hour | 96.0% |
| 1 to 4 hours | 2.3% |
| 4 to 8 hours | 0.5% |
| More than 8 hours | 1.2% |
Reported contents are quickly reviewed and handled by expert reviewers and our Automated Monitoring System. Kakao continues to make improvements to the system to quickly take action against accounts that violate policies and monitors the influx of reports to allocate the adequate number of operational staff. However, processing time may increase if there is an unexpected inflow of reports.