'Fake News Punishment Act' Takes Effect Today... Concerns Over Vague Criteria

[Anchor]

The revised Information and Communications Network Act, often referred to as the "Fake News Punishment Act," takes effect today, July 7. Those who spread false and manipulated information could face punitive damages of up to five times the actual harm. However, critics point out that the criteria for what constitutes "fake news" remain ambiguous, raising concerns that it could stifle freedom of expression.

Reporter Kim Minjun has the story.

[Reporter]

This video, which appears to show national football team player Jens Castrop hitting former head coach Hong Myung-bo, went viral with over 10 million views in just one week. It was, however, a fake created using AI.

With the revised Information and Communications Network Act taking effect today, uploading such videos without disclosing that they are fake now carries a higher risk of sanctions.

Of course, not all information that is simply factually incorrect will be punished as false or manipulated content.

Authorities will comprehensively evaluate factors such as intent, purpose, and whether the rights of others have been infringed upon. Exceptions have been made for criticism, satire, and parody.

While general KakaoTalk conversations or private group chats are excluded, public open chat rooms accessible to an unspecified number of people are subject to the law.

Following news that violators could face fines of up to 1 billion won and punitive damages of up to five times the harm, users in online communities expressed anxiety, with comments such as, "Everyone should check their posts ten times before uploading," and "This is a crazy level of censorship."

Some are even sharing tips on how to respond, such as "strictly separating facts from opinions" and "clearly stating that a post is a personal opinion."

Experts also point out that the criteria for distinguishing between protected freedom of expression and punishable false or manipulated information remain vague.

[Interview: Lee Sung-yeop / Professor, Graduate School of Management of Technology, Korea University: "The criteria for determining whether something is false or manipulated are so ambiguous. Since platforms are required to take measures like deletion once a report is filed, there is a high possibility that people will feel discouraged from expressing their views."]

While the law is intended to clean up the public discourse, concerns are being raised that it could inadvertently stifle freedom of expression and the media's role in holding power accountable.

Reported by Kim Minjun | Video by Choi Hye-young | Graphics by Im Chan-hyuk | Video courtesy of YouTube 'Fact Research Institute'
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.