"Wearing the Rising Sun Flag on Broadcast?"... Naver Begins Measures Amid 'Chijijik' Controversy

Controversy Over Lack of Pre-Review for Streamers
Naver: "24-Hour Monitoring in Operation... AI Also Applied"

On the game-specialized streaming platform ‘Chijijik (CHZZK)’ launched by Naver as a public beta service, content with potential pro-Japanese controversy or sexually explicit material has been discovered. In response, Naver has taken measures such as applying artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen pornography filtering.

Naver conducted the first and second beta tester recruitment for Chijijik targeting streamers with over 10,000 subscribers on the 19th of last month and the 4th of this month, securing popular streamers. On the 7th, it announced plans to grant broadcasting rights to all streamers by mid-next month. A Naver official said, “Although we cannot disclose specific figures, the cumulative number of beta access applicants is in the four digits,” adding, “It is safe to say that almost all streamers who broadcast individually in Korea have applied.”

‘Chijijik’ logo [Image source provided by Naver]

However, since Naver recruited streamers by internally screening them and granting broadcasting rights, several problems reportedly arose. Even though the age restriction feature was not implemented, adult broadcasts were not penalized, and due to insufficient prior screening, controversial figures and criminals were accepted.

One female streamer in her 20s became the subject of controversy for broadcasting on another platform last year while wearing a headband and T-shirt depicting the Rising Sun Flag of the Japanese Empire used during the Pacific War on Liberation Day, praising Japan. On the 3rd, she also broadcast on Chijijik wearing a T-shirt and headband with the Rising Sun Flag. This streamer was known to have been active on Twitch and AfreecaTV before passing the Chijijik beta tester screening. Additionally, streamers with criminal records including sexual offenses or those mainly conducting sexually explicit adult broadcasts were found to have passed the Chijijik beta tester screening.

As the controversy spread, Naver revoked this female streamer’s broadcasting rights on the 4th due to violations of operational policies. From the 5th, an age restriction feature was added to live and video services requiring age limits, allowing viewers of live and video services to be restricted to those aged 19 and over.

A female streamer who caused controversy by broadcasting in an outfit featuring the Rising Sun flag on "Chijijik"
[Image source=Captured from online community]

Naver stated that since it does not have the authority to verify streamer identities and it is practically impossible to preemptively block inappropriate broadcasts that may occur instantaneously, it will focus on rapid monitoring and strengthening post-action measures.

First, Naver will gradually increase personnel through its internal Chijijik operation team and its subsidiary Green Web Service to monitor Chijijik 24 hours a day.

Additionally, to enhance pornography filtering, Naver applied AI technology called ‘X-eye.’ X-eye is currently applied to Chijijik’s video-on-demand (VOD) and chat, and its scope will be expanded to live video in the future. This technology can filter harmful photos and videos with a probability of 98.1%.

A Naver official said, “Along with strengthening monitoring, we plan to form a streamer and user ecosystem through integration with Naver Cafe, improve technical completeness, and officially launch Chijijik within this year.”