Cyber defamation law

Cyber Defamation is a crime conducted in cyberspace, usually through the Internet, with the intention of defaming others. The cyber defamation law that the Korean government tries to make is intended to capture such criminal activities by allowing police to crack down on hateful comments without any reports from the victims. The only country where such cyber defamation law is being implemented is China, and South Korea is the first democratic country in the process of introducing the law.^[1]

South Korea

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC), South Korea's telecommunications and broadcasting regulator, has been considering revising the current Telecommunications Law and put more regulations and deeper scrutiny on major Internet portals.^[2]

Controversies

There have been talks about introducing the stricter laws in cyberspace. A famous celebrity's suicide in South Korea,^[3][4] triggered the controversies once again as to whether such law is necessary. The law supported by the governing Grand National Party (GNP), if implemented, will allow police to investigate the cyber defamation cases without any complaints of the victims. The opposition Democratic Party (DP) has been against the introduction of such law.^[5]

Advocate views

• The current laws have failed to prevent the number of the victims from increasing at an escalating rate.
• Freedom of speech comes with responsibility.
• Because information and rumors can travel in a matter of seconds in the Internet, cyber-bullying and cyber defamation could take a significant toll on each victim without such strict regulations by authorities.

Opposing views

• There are already ways to regulate the cyberspace with the current laws.
• It is potentially possible for the law to be exploited by authorities in an attempt to crack down on people who express opposite views.
• Such law might cause a harmful effect on freedom of speech.
• "Defamation" is too ambiguous to be defined by a third party, other than the victims.

Survey

A Research & Research survey of 800 Korean people conducted on Jan. 14, 2009 showed that 60% supported the GNP-led bill dealing with cyber defamation, and 32.1% opposed it.^[6]

Celebrities' suicide

Some Korean celebrities have suffered from severe depression, caused in part by malicious online comments, before committing suicide.

• Lee Eun-ju
• Jung Da Bin
• U;Nee
• Choi Jin-sil

See also

• Cyber Bullying
• Cyber stalking
• Cyber Victimization
• Insult
• Suicide of Megan Meier
• Dow Jones & Co. Inc. v Gutnick

References

1. ^ Growing Responsibility 08-19-2008 Korea Times
2. ^ Online Portals Face More Regulation, Deeper Scrutiny 12-18-2008 by Kim Tong-hyung Korea Times
3. ^ Insults on Internet 10-05-2008 Korea Times
4. ^ Seoul rushes Internet Bill Oct 13, 2008 by Lee Tee Jong, South Korea Correspondent, The Straits Times
5. ^ Parties Clash Over Freedom of Expression 01-11-2009 by Kang Hyun-kyung, Korea Times
6. ^ 50% Say 'Green New Deal' Will Boost Economy 01-15-2009 By Kang Hyun-kyung, Korea Times