Seoul: The government on Friday rejected claims by U.S. lawmakers that a revised network act contains discriminatory provisions against foreign companies and could be used for political censorship. The revised Information and Communications Network Act is "aimed at responding to social ills arising from the digital environment and strengthening the protection of users," a senior foreign ministry official said.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the official emphasized that the act does not include discriminatory elements against any American company, adding that the government will cooperate with relevant agencies to clarify the intent and impact of the revision to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. The response came after the committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan, sent a letter to the Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) expressing concerns over the recently amended law.
The letter from the committee stated that the amendment serves as a major threat to online speech and expression, warning that it could allow the KMCC to penalize American companies and their users for exercising their constitutionally protected rights. The committee further expressed apprehensions about the law's vague scope and its potential to censor politically disfavored opinions, thus having a chilling effect on free speech and online expression.
The panel argued that the amendment seemed specifically targeted at American companies, indicating it was reportedly intended to curb the spread of "false and manipulated information" on U.S.-owned platforms, such as YouTube. The revised law, which took effect Tuesday, is designed to address the spread of false information online, reflecting growing concern over disinformation amid the rise of social media and generative artificial intelligence.
The committee's letter follows a report released early last month accusing South Korea of "discriminatory attacks" on e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. and other American companies, claiming the Asian country's treatment of them violates last year's bilateral trade deal.