Seoul: The State Department has voiced "significant concerns" regarding a recent amendment to South Korea's Information and Communications Network Act, which was passed to address false and fabricated online information. The department stated that the revision could negatively impact U.S.-based online platforms and threaten free expression.

According to Yonhap News Agency, these remarks were made by a State Department spokesperson in response to questions following the South Korean Cabinet's approval of the amendment on Tuesday (Korea time), after it had been passed by the National Assembly. Earlier in the week, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers also expressed concerns about the revision through social media posts, highlighting the potential for diplomatic and trade tensions between the U.S. and South Korea.

The spokesperson emphasized that the United States is troubled by South Korea's decision to approve the amendment, which could harm U.S. online businesses and restrict free speech. The official urged South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea (ROK), to avoid imposing unnecessary barriers on digital services and reaffirmed the U.S.'s opposition to censorship, stressing the importance of a free and open digital environment.

In her social media posts, Rogers warned that the revision could grant regulators powers detrimental to technology cooperation. She pointed out that while the amendment aims to tackle defamatory deepfakes, it could extend beyond its intended purpose and threaten tech collaboration.

Rogers suggested that civil remedies for victims of deepfakes would be more appropriate than allowing regulators broad authority for viewpoint-based censorship. Her comments reflect concerns over the potential impact on major U.S. online platforms like Google and Meta. The U.S. administration, under President Donald Trump, has prioritized restoring freedom of speech and ending censorship.

A joint fact sheet released in November, detailing bilateral trade and security agreements, underscored the commitment of both countries to prevent discrimination against U.S. companies and to avoid unnecessary legal and policy barriers concerning digital services, including regulations affecting online platforms.