Seoul: The National Assembly, spearheaded by the ruling Democratic Party (DP), successfully passed a controversial anti-fake news bill on Wednesday after the main opposition People's Power Party (PPP) concluded its 24-hour filibuster. This development marks the end of a prolonged standoff between the rival factions within the assembly.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the revised Information and Communications Network Act was subjected to a vote during a plenary session. This vote followed the PPP's attempt to delay proceedings through a renewed filibuster. The newly approved bill outlines the definition of false or fabricated information and seeks to prohibit its dissemination across telecommunication networks. A critical component of the legislation is the imposition of punitive damages, which holds media outlets and YouTubers liable for damages up to five times the incurred losses if they are found guilty of spreading disinformation for illicit gains, thereby causing harm to others.
Furthermore, the bill includes a clause that renders individuals who defame others by stating facts with malicious intent liable to a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine reaching 30 million won (approximately US$20,593). The opposition has criticized the bill, arguing that it represents an effort to suppress media freedom and infringe on the freedom of expression. In contrast, the ruling party maintains that the legislation is intended to curb the proliferation of fake and misleading information, thereby enhancing accountability.
The filibuster launched by the PPP was a strategic parliamentary maneuver aimed at delaying the bill's passage by extending the debate. This marked the second such filibuster by the PPP in as many days, following an extended debate on Monday intended to delay the vote on legislation related to the establishment of a special insurrection tribunal concerning former President Yoon Suk Yeol's unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law.
During the filibuster, PPP leader Jang Dong-hyuk set a new record for the longest continuous speech in the National Assembly, speaking for 24 hours starting on Monday. Despite the filibuster, the DP eventually passed the insurrection tribunal bill, leveraging its parliamentary majority. As the PPP's second filibuster reached its 24-hour limit shortly after noon, it cleared the path for the DP to pass the anti-fake news bill, effectively concluding the filibuster showdown between the rival parties.