South Korean Forums Will Need to Scan Every Images with AI Censorship Tools

South Korea's government has mandated that all internet forums and online communities implement AI censorship tools to scan user-uploaded images and videos starting July 1st, 2026, requiring website owners to purchase expensive datacenter-grade GPUs at their own cost. The regulation targets illegal content including non-consensual pornography and child sexual abuse material, but in practice applies broadly to creative works depicting minors, mild nudity, and even innocuous content, with the AI system having previously censored swimsuit photos, anime drawings, and math problems. The requirement has sparked criticism for disproportionately burdening small businesses and potentially driving Korean online communities to foreign platforms that remain exempt from the rule.