Clicking 'Gamyeokja Jeongbo' Leads to Investment Ads... Can We Stop the Cleverly Disguised 'Fake News'?

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Although the government, local governments, and political circles have been announcing strong responses day after day, 'fake news' related to the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) is becoming increasingly sophisticated. On the 31st of last month, a report containing personal information of patients along with claims of additional confirmed cases in a specific area was circulated in the form of an official document on online communities. Upon verification by the relevant local government, the document was revealed to be a 'fake report.'

There are also cases where advertising messages are spread by exploiting the public's keen interest in whether confirmed cases have occurred. According to East Security ESRC (Security Response Center), messages with phrases related to the novel coronavirus, such as "Check the identity information of rapidly spreading domestic Wuhan pneumonia patients and contacts," were sent with internet addresses (URLs) similar to those of major domestic portal news sites to induce users to click. Clicking on these links opens a messenger on the phone of an asset manager who encourages investment.

◆ Despite Strong Response Policies, Spam Runs Rampant= The Korea Communications Commission and the Korea Internet & Security Agency have decided to immediately request mobile carriers to block such spam messages upon detection and impose fines of up to 30 million KRW on businesses violating prior consent and labeling obligations. The Cyber Safety Bureau of the National Police Agency has designated monitoring personnel at 17 local police agencies nationwide and plans to investigate messages that induce users to sign up for specific sites.

Nevertheless, such spam continues to run rampant. According to data released by the Korea Internet & Security Agency on the 30th of last month, about 10,000 reports were received, including approximately 260 spam cases redirecting users to other sites and about 9,770 financial spam cases recommending stocks themed around the novel coronavirus. The Korea Communications Commission warned, "There is a possibility of secondary damage such as malware infection through spam exploiting disaster situations," and urged users to exercise special caution by not clicking on URLs with unclear sources in text messages.

A screenshot of sensational false text messages actually circulated exploiting the novel coronavirus [Captured from East Security ESRC (Security Response Center) blog]

◆ 'Fake News' Spreading via YouTube and SNS= Anxiety caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus is amplified by false information or unverified facts circulating online through platforms such as YouTube and social networking services (SNS). The National Police Agency announced that it will track and apprehend not only the original producers but also intermediate distributors of false or manipulated information. For false information that incites social unrest, the Korea Communications Standards Commission or site operators request deletion or blocking.

According to an official from the Korea Communications Standards Commission, the Information Culture Protection Team within the Communications Review Bureau is also intensively monitoring false information related to the novel coronavirus. The team consists of 43 personnel. They conduct comprehensive investigations of portal sites and SNS to identify false information spreading through these channels. The selected cases are then submitted to the Communications Review Subcommittee, composed of five members including the chairman, who review and make correction requests. Based on these decisions, domestic businesses such as portals are required to delete or correct the information, and for overseas businesses where deletion is not possible, measures will be taken to prevent the information from being imported into Korea.

◆ Strengthening Voluntary Regulation by Businesses= On the 31st of last month, the Democratic Party's Special Committee on Countermeasures Against False and Manipulated Information visited the Korea Internet Corporations Association and requested measures including ▲ prominently displaying key information related to the novel coronavirus on the main pages of portal sites ▲ prompt action on correction requests from the Communications Standards Commission ▲ fixing 'fact-check' articles from various media outlets on main pages ▲ automatically displaying credible information when entering coronavirus-related search terms ▲ and efforts at the association level to block false and manipulated information on YouTube.

The Internet Corporations Association has about 180 member companies, including Naver, Kakao, SK Communications, Facebook Korea, Google Korea, and Netflix Korea. Committee Chair Park Kwang-on emphasized, "The Communications Standards Commission has only 43 personnel monitoring false and manipulated information related to the novel coronavirus, and global platform operators like YouTube are in a legal blind spot domestically, so the role of association members is very important." He also requested that portals conduct their own monitoring of false information and proactively share results with the Communications Standards Commission. Park Sung-ho, Secretary-General of the Internet Corporations Association, said, "We will consider ways to more actively publicize the measures voluntarily taken by member companies and cooperate fully with government actions." The special committee plans to hold a party-government meeting with the Korea Communications Commission and the Communications Standards Commission at the National Assembly on the 5th to discuss responses to false information related to the novel coronavirus.