Chairman Donggwan Lee's Firm Stance... Cooperation with KCSC and Others
Promoting 'One-Strike Out' for Spreading False Information
The Korea Communications Commission announced on the 6th that it will launch a 'Fake News Eradication Task Force' to actively tackle fake news in the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors.
This move follows Chairman Lee Dong-kwan's statement at the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee plenary session on the 4th, where he expressed a firm determination to strictly deal with the issue, saying, "We will respond to eradicate the organized vicious cycle in which certain media act as the source of fake news, spreading it through portals, YouTube, etc., and public broadcasters rebroadcast it."
Lee Dong-kwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission (center), attended the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 5th. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@
The task force will first cooperate with related organizations, including the Korea Communications Standards Commission, to conduct thorough reviews and enforcement actions in the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors, where measures against fake news have been insufficient.
It also plans to establish regulations for media such as internet press. The current dual response system, divided between the Korea Communications Standards Commission and the Press Arbitration Commission, has been criticized for creating blind spots for fake news from new types of media like internet press.
There is a plan to pursue supplementary legislation, such as an integrated review system that allows for a 'one-strike-out' policy when malicious false information is intentionally or negligently disseminated via broadcasting and communication networks.
A KCC official stated, "We are focusing on the fact that fake news is spreading indiscriminately through portals, SNS, and video platforms, and we will continue to closely cooperate with relevant ministries and the National Assembly to strengthen the management responsibilities of service providers."
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