The Human Rights Commission Recommends Measures to Minimize Human Rights Violations in 'Youth Harmful Content Blocking Apps'

National Human Rights Commission of Korea building. Photo by Human Rights Commission

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The National Human Rights Commission has demanded measures be taken, stating that some applications (apps) that block harmful media for youth are infringing on the personal information and privacy of children and adolescents.

On the 2nd, the Human Rights Commission requested the Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission to inspect the actual conditions of additional functions restricted by related apps, and if human rights violations are confirmed, to take actions such as ordering the service providers of those apps to cease personal information infringement. The Commission also recommended creating, distributing, and promoting guidelines that include consent procedures for the use of blocking methods, as well as procedures for information storage and destruction.

Youth harmful media protection apps are typically installed by parents on their minor children to block various harmful content such as obscene information. Among these, some provide various additional functions such as real-time monitoring of smartphone usage, limiting smartphone usage time, tracking the child’s location, blocking Wi-Fi, blocking messenger use, and checking text message contents, according to the Human Rights Commission.

The Commission stated, "Protecting youth from harmful media and obscene information is necessary for the proper growth of children," but also pointed out, "Despite causing excessive infringements on fundamental rights such as children and adolescents’ freedom of privacy and personal information self-determination rights, sufficient information is not provided to parents or legal guardians to recognize these issues."