On the 14th of last month, the Korean government submitted factual data and recurrence prevention measures related to the Google error
First case applying the 'Netflix Act'
Focus on enhancing service safety and user protection
[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] It has been confirmed that Google recently submitted to our government a report on the cause analysis and recurrence prevention measures regarding the 'blackout incident' that occurred on the 14th of last month.
The government has requested Google to supplement insufficient details and has begun a thorough review of Google's compliance with the enforcement decree. As the first case applying the 'Netflix Act' (the amended Telecommunications Business Act), attention is focused on whether this will prevent frequent service disruptions by overseas platform companies and lead to strengthened user protection.
According to related industries on the 5th, Google submitted materials last weekend regarding the occurrence of the service disruption and the measures taken, as requested by the Ministry of Science and ICT. A Ministry of Science and ICT official stated, "Google submitted materials including the overall cause of the incident and recurrence prevention measures, and we requested supplementation on some insufficient points. Experts will soon participate to conduct additional reviews."
In this report, Google reportedly identified the main cause of the service disruption as an authentication system failure due to internal storage quota issues. As recurrence prevention measures, Google mentioned plans to improve the system, enhance quota management systems, and upgrade monitoring and alarm systems to quickly detect future disruptions. The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to discuss follow-up measures with experts. They aim to establish a practical institutional application process to prevent recurrence of service disruptions by major value-added telecommunications service providers and focus on strengthening user protection policies.
However, the possibility of consumer compensation is low. According to the current Telecommunications Business Act, value-added telecommunications service providers such as Google or Netflix must notify users if a disruption lasts more than four hours and share compensation procedures within a month. This disruption lasted far less than four hours, so it does not qualify.
Rather, this submission of materials is seen as significant as the first practical case of institutional application that mandates internet content providers to secure means for service stability, rather than for damage compensation. An industry official said, "This is the first time Google has communicated the facts of a service disruption and officially expressed its position to the Korean government," adding, "It is meaningful in terms of strengthening the responsibility for service disruptions and the obligation for service stability of major value-added telecommunications service providers."
Meanwhile, the Google service disruption that occurred on the 14th of last month lasted about 45 minutes from 8:45 PM to 9:30 PM. Services including YouTube, Gmail, Calendar, Play Store, and Google Cloud all stopped functioning. The Ministry of Science and ICT regarded this as a case where the safety of telecommunications services provided by value-added telecommunications service providers was compromised and requested Google to submit materials regarding the facts for cause identification and measures to secure service stability.
The Ministry of Science and ICT's action was based on the amended Telecommunications Business Act enforcement decree, which took effect on the 10th of last month. The amended Telecommunications Business Act, known as the 'Netflix Act,' allows the government to request submission of materials to verify facts when service interruptions or safety issues occur with major value-added telecommunications service providers with over one million daily users (Google, Netflix, Facebook, Naver, Kakao).
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