A bill requiring the disclosure of the country-by-country ratio of the internet addresses (IP) used by authors of online message board posts and comments will be introduced in the National Assembly. As accusations grow that actors overseas, including in China, are systematically meddling in shaping public opinion at home, some say a legal response is needed.
According to the National Assembly on the 13th, Kim Mi-ae of the People Power Party the previous afternoon proposed a partial amendment to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection that contains these measures. Ahead of the June 3 local elections, the People Power Party is pushing to introduce an "online comment nationality labeling system." The introduction of this amendment is in the same vein.
Under the amendment, information and communications service providers above a certain size must calculate and disclose to users the share of access by country based on the internet addresses (IP) used to access message boards and comments. It would also require providers to take technical and administrative measures to detect "organized information manipulation," such as mass posting under identical or similar access environments or repeatedly posting via automated programs. Compliance performance must be reported to the Korea Media and Communications Commission.
Kim Mi-ae said, "Freedom of expression must be protected, but the minimum information and transparency needed for the public to judge public opinion on their own must also be guaranteed," adding, "Allowing the possibility of organized opinion manipulation by foreign forces is indifference to democracy." She added, "It is time for the National Assembly to pass the amendment and secure the transparency of the public sphere institutionally."
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok earlier on the 10th said, "Public opinion is being distorted by foreigners' comments. In addition, the voting rights of foreigners are threatening the people's sovereignty," adding, "Clearly, the people feel threatened." According to Jang, the access location of an X social media account that posted more than 65,000 messages criticizing the People Power Party over the past seven years was identified as China.
People Power Party chief spokesperson Park Sung-hoon also said, "Ahead of the June local elections, there is growing concern that domestic online public opinion could be distorted by organized comment activity based overseas," adding, "The People Power Party will ensure the introduction of the 'comment nationality labeling system.'"
Early last year as well, Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party introduced an amendment to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection to require labeling the nationality of users based on the location from which they post.
The Democratic Party of Korea is opposed. Democratic Party floor spokesperson Kim Hyun-jung said of the "comment nationality labeling system," "It is no different from claims repeatedly made by some far-right YouTubers," adding, "The People Power Party brings up anti-China rhetoric whenever public opinion emerges that conflicts with its view."