Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Takes Legal Action Against Apps Violating Youth Harmful Media Notification
135 Overseas Random Chatting Apps Suspended...Only 30 Still Operating
▲A scene of a conversation on a random chat app (Provided by the office of Assemblywoman Kim Seung-hee)
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has filed criminal charges against 12 random chat apps that have become hotbeds of youth sex crimes.
On the 21st, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced that it had filed criminal charges against 12 chat apps that violated the Youth Protection Act, including youth harmful content labeling and mandatory adult verification for app users.
The ministry has been enforcing a notification treating apps that do not implement technical measures for safe chat services?such as managing members through real-name and mobile phone verification, saving conversations, and providing reporting functions?as youth harmful media since the end of last year.
Among the 408 random chat apps in Korea, actions have been taken on 396 apps: ▲154 apps have ceased operation or service ▲227 apps have complied with technical safety measures and notifications ▲15 apps have fulfilled mandatory adult verification (age verification). Criminal charges were filed against 12 apps that failed to comply with the notification.
After the announcement implementation in December 2020, the random chat app inspection results (Data provided by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family)
The ministry has completed inspections of random chat apps operated by overseas providers and requested Google, Apple, One Store, and other platform operators to suspend sales of 135 out of 144 apps. As of February 15, only 30 of the 135 apps operated by overseas providers remain active, while 105 are not operating due to sales suspension or other reasons. App markets first suspend sales and only lift suspensions for apps that have been corrected.
Businesses that violate the obligation to label youth harmful media may face imprisonment of up to two years or fines up to 20 million KRW. Those who sell, distribute, or provide youth harmful media for profit may be subject to imprisonment of up to three years or fines up to 30 million KRW.
Choi Sung-yoo, Director of Youth Policy at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, stated, "We will expand inspections to prevent illegal chat apps from circulating, and strengthen cooperation with related agencies to create a safe online environment for children and youth by inspecting and blocking harmful sites and harmful videos."
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