Jaein Kyo, Justice Party Lawmaker, Submits Amendment to the "Electronic Commerce Act"
"Strengthening Platform Responsibility, Punishment for Paid Review Writing"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] As issues with malicious and false reviews have surfaced, an amendment to the Electronic Commerce Act containing provisions on platform companies' responsibility for review writing and penalties for authors has been proposed.
Recently, social issues have arisen such as business owners suffering damages due to abuse of the review system, including the 'Shrimp Tempura Power Abuse Incident,' or gaining financial benefits by writing paid false reviews. The current law does not regulate obligations or penalties related to user reviews, leaving no effective sanctions.
Accordingly, Justice Party lawmaker Bae Jin-gyo proposed an amendment to the "Consumer Protection Act in Electronic Commerce, etc." on the 24th to establish a fair trading order online.
The bill includes strengthening platform companies' responsibility for review systems such as delivery applications and e-commerce, preventing excessive review competition, and banning paid review writing.
The main contents of the bill are ▲requiring communication sales intermediaries (platform operators) to disclose information such as methods of collecting consumer reviews and sorting criteria ▲inserting warning phrases for penalties when false reviews are written ▲mandating preventive measures against false review writing or mediation and brokerage of reviews.
Additionally, ▲prohibiting communication sales consignees (platform users) from paying for and commissioning review writing ▲prohibiting writing false reviews for payment from communication sales consignees ▲banning writing reviews in exchange for compensation.
Furthermore, ▲violations of prohibited acts will be punishable by imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 100 million won ▲and aggravated penalties will apply if intent to cause disadvantage is recognized.
Lawmaker Bae Jin-gyo said, "False reviews distort information not only for store owners but also for consumers, causing harm to both sides."
He added, "The responsibility of platform companies, which hold all authority over platform operations, is important," emphasizing, "Acts of manipulating reviews falsely for compensation and demanding payment for writing reviews need to be regulated by law."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
