Fee Reporting System and n-beon Method Pass Legal Affairs Committee... Awaiting Plenary Session Vote

Relaxation from Rate Approval System to Notification System... Passed Legal Affairs Committee
Mandatory Prevention of Digital Sexual Crime Material Transmission Law Also Passed
'Network Free Riding Prevention Law' Awaiting National Assembly Plenary Vote

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act, which relaxes the telecommunications fee approval system to a 'notification system,' passed the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the morning of the 20th. The 'Nth Room Prevention Act,' which mandates internet companies to prevent the transmission of digital sexual crime materials, and the 'Network Free Riding Prevention Act,' which requires content providers (CPs) such as Google, Facebook, and Netflix to bear the obligation of 'service safety,' also cleared the committee hurdle.

The amendment is expected to be submitted and processed at the plenary session held in the afternoon.

The 'Telecommunications Business Act Amendment,' which passed the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on this day, includes the telecommunications fee approval system. The core content is changing the terms of use for telecommunications fees from the current approval system to a notification system. Currently, when a dominant telecommunications operator raises fees, it must obtain 'approval' from the Ministry of Science and ICT, which takes one to two months. However, the amendment requires only 'notification' and includes a brake mechanism allowing rejection within 15 days.

Minister Choi Ki-young of the Ministry of Science and ICT responded to concerns about indiscriminate fee increases by saying, "In the past, dominant market operators controlled the market, but with multiple operators and a free competition system, we expect a fee reduction effect."

Additionally, the amended Telecommunications Business Act imposes obligations on value-added telecommunications service providers such as Naver and Kakao to delete illegal obscene materials and block access, as well as technical and administrative measures to prevent distribution. Criminal penalties are also possible for violations of distribution prevention measures.

The amendment to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, aimed at preventing the 'Telegram Nth Room incident,' also passed the full session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on this day. The amendment focuses on requiring internet operators such as Naver and Kakao to designate persons responsible for preventing the distribution of illegal recordings and to submit annual transparency reports to the Korea Communications Commission. Initially, internet companies opposed the amendment, arguing that it applied only to domestic operators and could cause controversy over 'private censorship.'

Meanwhile, the amendment to the Basic Act on Broadcasting and Communications Development, which includes internet data centers (IDCs) operated by Naver, Samsung SDS, etc., in the government's disaster management targets to establish accident countermeasures during disasters, was postponed due to legal system controversies with the Information and Communications Network Act.