AI monitoring system targets illegal drug sales online

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An artificial intelligence (AI)-based online monitoring system is set to be established this year to effectily combat illegal drug distribution, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Friday.

The system will continuously monitor online platforms, automatically identifying instances of illegal distribution and excessive advertising through AI.

This initiative seeks to promptly block and take action against posts promoting illegal drug sales.

Once implemented, the system will automatically detect and assess drug-related posts on various online platforms, including social media. The AI-based system will also be trained to recognize slangs and acronyms commonly associated with online drug transactions.

Recently, the diversification of online sales, including transactions on used items and social media, has led to a surge in false and exaggerated advertising for food, medicine and drugs.

The necessity of a monitoring system capable of swiftly blocking such distribution is highlighted as more teenagers are increasingly exposed to illegal drugs through social media.

According to the National Police Agency (NPA), there was a 38.5 percent increase in drug-related arrests, totaling 17,152 offenders from March to November last year, compared to the previous year's 12,387 arrests.

Notably, individuals aged 13 to 39 accounted for 57.6 percent of the total arrests.

The police attribute the rise in drug distribution to easy and widespread transactions facilitated by social media and the internet.

The number of internet drug offenders increased by 41.1 percent to 4,362 in 2023 compared to 3,092 offenders the previous year. Since 2022, over 2,000 people have been arrested for drug crimes that involved transactions made through the dark web and with virtual assets.

To address this issue, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to allocate approximately 375 million won ($285,323) this year to develop discrimination algorithms targeting drugs.

It aims to crack down on misleading advertisements, prevent online searches on drugs and establish a system capable of automatically sending a request to block advertisements or sales posts to relevant organizations, such as online platforms and social media.

Experts view this initiative positively, considering it a necessary step in controlling drug distribution.

Cho Sung-nam, chief director of the National Forensic Hospital, believes that screening social media and online platforms through the system will help narrow down the scope of sellers and aid in blocking and punishing drug dealers.

Lee Beom-jin, a professor at the College of Pharmacy at Ajou University, said he agrees with the system but also showed concern regarding the system's potential limitations in detecting evolving slang.

“It is important to actively prepare countermeasures against prevention in the future while managing drug distribution through such a system,” Lee said.