South Korea: Using AI to Fight Drug Trafficking

The South Korean government will establish an artificial intelligence (AI)-based online monitoring system this year to improve the effectiveness of monitoring and combating illegal drug trafficking, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) said.

MFDS plans to allocate approximately $285,000 in 2024 to develop effective algorithms to identify misleading advertisements, block online searches for drugs, and establish a system that can automatically send requests to relevant organizations to block advertisements or sales posts.

The AI monitoring system initiated by MFDS will automatically detect and evaluate drug-related posts on various online platforms, including social media.

The recent proliferation of online sales has led to an increase in false and exaggerated advertisements of various products and the sale of drugs under false pretenses. This calls for a surveillance system capable of quickly stopping drug distribution, as more and more young people are exposed to illegal substances through social media.

Experts in South Korea view the initiative positively, seeing it as a necessary step in controlling drug trafficking and distribution. According to statistics from the Korean National Police Agency, in 2023, the number of people committing online drug crimes increased by 41.1% compared to 2022. Since 2022, more than 2,000 people have been arrested for drug transactions conducted on the dark web and using virtual assets.

PEARL

Source