(LEAD) Gender minister says Google must take responsibility for any legal violations over data leak

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SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Yonhap) -- Gender Equality Minister Won Min-kyong said Friday that Google must take responsibility if any legal violations are found over an alleged leak of personal data of digital sex crime victims.

The victims' information was found to have been exposed late last month on a foreign research project website collaborating with Google and taken down only after the government demanded it be removed.

The information included the names and contact details of victims who had requested Google to remove illegally filmed videos.

"A platform with significant influence globally, like Google, has an even heavier responsibility to protect and safely deal with sensitive information of victims," Won said during a press briefing. "If any legal violations are found, Google must take legal responsibility.

"This 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 in front of the victims and the public."

Gender Equality Minister Won Min-kyong speaks during a briefing on a data leak of digital sex crime victims at the government complex in central Seoul on Sept. 11, 2026. (Yonhap)

Won said her ministry is working with the Korea Media and Communications Commission to check for any legal violations, including of the sexual violence punishment law.

Google has apologized over the leak, saying it asked the operator to delete the information as soon as it was brought to their attention. The tech giant has blamed technical errors for the incident, according to the ministry.

Won said the government will check whether Google takes proper follow-up prevention measures, noting the company has pledged not to share any deletion requests from South Korea with outside parties.

The ministry is also looking into whether similar incidents could happen on other online platforms.

The Personal Information Protection Commission said it has launched an investigation into the leak.

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr (END)

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(LEAD) Gender minister says Google must take responsibility for any legal violations over data leak

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首尔，9月11日（韩联社）——韩国性别平等部长官元民京周五表示，如果谷歌涉嫌泄露数字性犯罪受害者的个人数据，并被发现存在任何违法行为，谷歌必须承担责任。

上个月底，受害者的信息被发现泄露在一个与谷歌合作的外国研究项目网站上，直到政府要求删除后才被撤下。

这些信息包括要求谷歌删除非法拍摄视频的受害者的姓名和联系方式。

“像谷歌这样在全球范围内拥有巨大影响力的平台，肩负着更重的责任来保护和安全处理受害者的敏感信息，”元在新闻发布会上说。“如果发现任何违法行为，谷歌必须承担法律责任。”

“这个问题不应被轻描淡写地视为简单的系统错误或失误。谷歌必须认真对待问题的严重性，并在受害者和公众面前采取负责任的态度。”

2026年9月11日，性别平等部长官元珉京在首尔市中心政府大楼就数字性犯罪受害者数据泄露事件举行简报会。（韩联社）

元表示，她的部门正在与韩国媒体和通信委员会合作，检查是否存在任何违法行为，包括违反性暴力惩罚法的行为。

谷歌已就泄密事件道歉，称其在得知此事后立即要求运营商删除相关信息。据该部称，这家科技巨头将此次事件归咎于技术故障。

元表示，政府将检查谷歌是否采取了适当的后续预防措施，并指出该公司已承诺不会与外部各方分享来自韩国的任何删除请求。

该部门还在调查其他网络平台是否会发生类似事件。

个人信息保护委员会表示，已对此次泄密事件展开调查。

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr (完)

性别平等部正在考虑就数据泄露事件对谷歌采取法律行动

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（新闻快讯）性别事务部长表示，谷歌必须为任何数据泄露相关的违法行为承担责任