The government and ruling party are talking about implementing a "real name system" for the internet. The government was the first to announce it would consider it, and now the ruling Uri Party has decided to consider it. The idea was talked about in 2003 but things got nowhere because it was so controversial. Now it is back on the drawing board as the "linguistic violence" of the internet has been receiving more attention as a result of the so-called "dog poop girl" episode.
The discussion about "real names" is full of misconceptions and illusions. The most exemplary is the misconception that there is not already a "real name system" in effect. Most of the large portal sites that lead the way in public opinion on the internet already require "real names" at time of registration. At a considerable number of news or government sites you cannot write messages on forums and bulletin boards without confirmation of your identity. Election laws require that people identify themselves on election-related sites. Even if you do not use such sites it is still hard to enjoy the freedom of anonymity like you might want to. Tracking someone down is fully possible because usually when you visit a website it records your IP. That is how most cyber crimes, such as hacking, are solved. To say you are going to require "real names" for everything in this situation is like saying you want to prohibit what little freedom of anonymity remains.
There also seems a misconception about a "real name system" being the most effective means in eradicating internet violence. If real names are required for everything, of course, it is very likely that most people will be a little more careful when they write things on the internet. But when there are events in society such as those involving the "dog poop girl" or the mass forfeiture of Korean citizenship by offspring of the country's social and political leadership, then the response on the internet will be little different than it always has been. When people get critical about something the whole public is enraged over, how many of them are going to watch what they say because their identities are known? Ultimately any "real name system" seriously risks hurting one of the internet's strong points, the ability to engage in criticism of power in its various forms and keep it in check.
Internet violence is clearly cause for concern. The solution, however, is not total confirmation of identity. The solution is to be found in voluntary self-regulatory effort by sensible users and in internet education.
The Hankyoreh, 6 July 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
'Real Names' Not Solution to Internet Problems |
