"Need for KCC Oversight" Pointed Out
'SignalLab' Real-time Search Service Integration
"Naver Impersonation and Confusion... Legal Action"
Naver has resumed the banned 'Real-time Trending Search Keywords' service through a loophole, raising calls for management and supervision by the Korea Communications Commission.
On the 7th, Lee Sang-hwi, a member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee from the People Power Party, criticized Naver for indirectly reviving the discontinued real-time search keyword service by linking the service of a business operator called 'Signal Lab' to its own platform.
Signal Lab launched the 'Signal Real-time Search Keywords' service in May 2021, right after Naver discontinued its real-time search keyword service, claiming to provide a service that allows users to use the discontinued real-time search keywords again.
Immediately after the launch of the Signal service, Naver provided a linking function with its own platform, enabling users to easily add Signal's real-time search keyword service to their personal Naver pages.
Lee pointed out that this real-time search keyword service operates on the same keyword search principle as Naver's service, and when clicking on 'Signal Real-time Search Keywords,' it is in-linked to the Naver news page instead of the search results for the keyword, making it possible for certain political groups or other forces to manipulate public opinion through 'coordinate targeting.'
Lee emphasized, "Naver should immediately suspend the linking of the Signal Real-time Search Keywords service, and the Korea Communications Commission must faithfully fulfill its responsibilities for market management and supervision even now."
Naver stated, "Since discontinuing the real-time trending search keywords in February 2021, several online-based marketing companies have created and provided similar services, but these are completely unrelated to Naver, so we do not know how they collect and provide data," adding, "If there are parts that impersonate or cause misunderstanding about Naver, we will consider legal action."
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