The government and ruling Uri Party have again decided to try to require people to use their real identities on the internet, something they gave up on a few years ago when they ran into massive opposition. The plan would be to change the law to require users of portal sites and internet media to confirm people’s identity so as to prevent defamation of character and invasion of privacy. Sites would also be allowed to temporarily block content that is part of a "flame-up" of angry sentiment, or when the target of said content requests that it be removed. The idea seems to sacrifice freedom of expression in order to try to reduce cases of defamation. The plan basically comes from a belief system that says, "control solves everything," and it would significantly harm the true essence of the internet, which is open communication.
Listening to the politicians who want this program in place, you would think there is no other way to prevent the internet from being lawless and full of libel. However, as things are, it is easy enough to track down people breaking laws on the internet and punish them accordingly, because you can trace IP addresses. Many times, finding someone's IP address is never even necessary because many portal sites require people to register using their Resident Registration Number, Korea's national ID number.
Therefore, the real effect of the legislating of a program requiring real names to be used would be a preventive one, in that it would scare people by making sure they know they will get caught the moment they do something wrong. The problem is that the requirement has the potential to hurt healthy criticism. Most of the criticism on internet bulletin boards is directed at politicians, so it is easy to sense why the government and the Uri Party want to require people to identify themselves.
The idea of allowing internet companies to temporarily block user content is also dangerous, because it essentially means the government is giving sites the authority to be official censors. Allowing the sites to block writing that is the object of criticism can be compared to giving the executive branch the authority to issue media injunctions, authority that is supposed to be held by the courts. It is unconstitutional thinking that threatens freedom of expression. Requiring people to use their real names is additionally futile because people can use others’ identities when signing in, thus undermining any "positive identification."
The only serious issue with privacy these days is when Resident Registration Numbers are victims of identity theft or when large numbers of them are leaked, and this has nothing to do with comments placed on internet bulletin boards. What is truly needed on the internet is a prohibition on requiring users to enter their Resident Registration Numbers, not the government’s transparent proposal.
The government and ruling party need to withdraw their push for the real-name use requirement. Instead, they need to prevent the use of Resident Registration Numbers on the internet, and find ways to allow people to confirm who they are without the risk of private data being leaked.
[Editorial] Government’s internet plan hurts freedom of expression |
