A YouTube video featuring broadcaster Kim Eo-jun was removed on its very first day under the revised Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, commonly referred to as the "fake news punishment law."
According to the IT industry, YouTube blocked Kim's video yesterday, following a report filed by former Channel A reporter Lee Dong-jae.
The problematic video now displays a message stating, "This content is not available on this country domain due to a defamation report."
YouTube's action comes after a court found Kim guilty of defamation following the implementation of the revised information and communications network law.
On July 14, Kim was sentenced in the first trial to a fine of 20 million won on charges of defamation. Between April and October 2020, Kim made statements totaling six times on YouTube and other platforms alleging that former reporter Lee pressured former ValueInvest Korea CEO Lee Chul to make a false report claiming he gave money to Yu Si-min.
At the time, the court pointed out that Kim "had a poor nature of crime by repeatedly stating false facts."
Former reporter Lee requested YouTube to delete the video and block the account on the 7th, the first day of the revised law's implementation, stating that a portion of the "Kim Eo-jun's Das Boeida" video posted on the YouTube Ddanji Broadcasting channel was spreading false information about him and damaging his reputation.
Following Kim's case, there are projections that reports of violations regarding the July 7 law on online platforms such as YouTube will increase exponentially.
Under the previously revised network act, online platforms of a certain size or larger, including YouTube, must fulfill self-regulatory obligations such as establishing a reporting and processing system for fabricated false information and operational policies.
The Korea Communications Standards Commission plans to review related agenda items if objection or dispute mediation applications are filed by the parties involved in the future.
(Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Lee Da-in | Graphics by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News)
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