2,732 reports of false and manipulated information… Even the status of Google and Meta is ‘dark’

Five domestic platforms submitted data… Non-response and sanctions performance from 4 overseas countries is also ‘0’

Lee Joo-hee: “Domestic companies submitted data, but overseas platforms have no answer.”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kwon Ha-young = In the three months since the revised Information and Communications Network Act, which prohibited the distribution of false and manipulated information, went into effect on July 7, 2,732 related reports were received on five domestic platforms, including Naver and Kakao.

On the other hand, four large overseas platforms, including Google, Meta,

Since the enforcement of the law, no lawsuits for aggravated damages or investigations to impose fines have been conducted, some point out that follow-up measures are needed to ensure the effectiveness of the system.

◇ 2,732 reports on domestic platforms… Processing results vary

According to data submitted by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Joo-hee of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee on the 11th from the Korea Media and Communications Committee, a total of 2,732 reports of false and manipulated information have been received on five domestic platforms since the implementation of the revised network law.

The number of reports by business operator was 900 for Naver as of August 31, and 895 for Kakao as of September 28. As of September 30, Daum had 42 cases, Nate Communications had 66 cases, and DC Inside had 829 cases.

Previously, the Korea-U.S. Unification Committee designated a total of 9 companies, including 5 domestic and 4 overseas, as large-scale information and communication service providers in line with the implementation of the revised network law that prohibited the distribution of false and manipulated information.

However, four overseas businesses, including Google, Meta, Accordingly, it is impossible to confirm how many reports were received on these platforms and what actions were taken.

Major platforms with many domestic users, such as YouTube, Instagram, X, and TikTok, are in the authorities' blind spot of supervision.

The processing results of domestic businesses also showed differences. Naver took no action (rejected) all 900 reports, and Kakao also rejected all 895 cases it received.

DC Inside deleted 26 cases out of 829 cases and dismissed 803 cases. Of these, objections were filed in 13 cases. Nate Communications limited exposure in 1 out of 66 cases, and processed the rest through rejection or dismissal.

The case where Nate Communications restricted exposure was a video that was manipulated to make it look like a member of a famous idol group was behaving threateningly toward the audience. Temporary measures were taken after the manipulation was confirmed by comparing it with the original video presented by the reporter.

◇ Fines and aggravated damages performance ‘0’… Tasks to secure effectiveness

The revised Jeongto Communications Network Act newly defines false and manipulated information as prohibited information, and introduces an aggravated damages system that allows the court to set an aggravated compensation amount in the range of 5 times the amount of damage if all requirements for intention, purpose, and violation of legal interests are met.

In addition, the Korea-U.S. Unification Committee can impose a fine of up to 1 billion won on publishers who distribute information that has been determined by the court to be false and manipulated information more than twice.

However, it has been found that no lawsuits have been filed in court regarding the aggravated damages system since the enforcement of the law. There have been no cases yet where the Korea-U.S. Unification Committee has investigated or reviewed the imposition of fines.

Under the revised law, fines are imposed on publishers who distribute false and manipulated information, and platform operators are not subject to this. For this reason, even if the US-Visit Unification Committee tries to check the status of law enforcement by overseas platforms, there is no suitable means to force the submission of data.

There is also a provision that requires business operators to publish a report every six months containing the number of cases of reported illegal and false information being processed and the details of the measures taken, but there is no penalty provision for violation of this, so it is evaluated as being less effective.

Rep. Lee Joo-hee pointed out, “Domestic companies submitted data, but overseas platforms have no response,” adding, “They are treated differently under the same law.” He continued, “The purpose of the law cannot be implemented without knowing the status of major overseas platforms with many domestic users.”

Rep. Lee emphasized, “The U.S.-Visit Unification Committee must properly establish overseas platforms and communication channels and check the implementation status,” and added, “There is also a need to review ways to improve the system.”