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Starting next year, Internet companies will be prohibited from compiling the personal information of their users. Also, Internet companies, including portals, must self-monitor the postings being made and distributed on their own websites and will be punished if they neglect to remove postings following the requests of victims citing libel and slander.
At the same time, the government is considering the creation of a so-called "cyber contempt" law that authorizes punitive measures on people who distribute false information and post information on the Internet that libels or slanders the reputation of others.
The Korea Communications Commission and the Ministry of Public Administration and Security announced these measures Tuesday, and the government plans to enforce them next year after necessary regulations are revised or enacted.
According to the government measures, Internet companies will be prohibited from gathering, storing and distributing their users' personal information, such as resident registration numbers, other than in cases authorized by law. Instead, Internet companies will be required to verify the identities of registrants through mobile phone certification or digital certificates authorized by the government.
Internet portals will face more stringent standards when it comes to social responsibility. A new regulation will be created punishing portals especially if they neglect to delete or take other measures on posted information following the request of a victim citing libel or slander. In order to prevent the adverse effects of virtual anonymity guaranteed in cyberspace, Internet portals with at least 100,000 registered users will be required to verify the identities of the people posting information on their websites. At present, only those Internet websites with at least 300,000 registered users are required to do this. Internet portals based overseas that aim to avoid Korean laws will be blocked.
Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han said his ministry would pursue steps to strengthen punitive measures on Internet crime by creating the cyber contempt law regarding libelous and slanderous information being posted on websites. Kim added that such drastic steps were necessary due to a rise in slander, libel and other illegal acts on the Internet, as well as threats against businesses to get them to halt advertisements in certain newspapers.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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