"Need to Address the YouTube Filter Bubble Issue"
Granting Individuals the Right to Choose Algorithmic Services
Mandatory Periodic Checks on Continued Use
Amid growing concerns over the negative impact of far-right YouTube content as one of the causes behind the "12.3 Rebellion" and the "1.19 Court Riot," a so-called "Yoon Sukyeol Prevention Act" has been proposed to address the YouTube filter bubble issue.
On the 29th, Jo Incheol, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Gwangju Seo-gu Gap), announced that he had proposed a revision to the "Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc." The main focus of the bill is to allow individuals to choose whether to use algorithmic recommendation services on platforms like YouTube.
Currently, YouTube offers a "Don't recommend channel" feature to reject algorithmic recommendations, but most users are unaware of its existence. As a result, the majority of YouTube users have been subject to algorithmic recommendations without their knowledge or explicit consent.
The proposed amendment would require service providers offering algorithm-based information recommendation services, such as YouTube, to clearly inform users in their terms of service that the service is operated by algorithms, that users have the right to choose whether to use it, and to explain the selection procedure in an easily understandable manner. The amendment also mandates that users be periodically asked about their intention to use the service, thereby guaranteeing their right to choose.
The algorithmic features of platform operators like YouTube collect user information and learn their preferences to provide only "filtered information." This has been criticized for blocking users from accessing diverse information and continuously providing only content that matches their preferences, which in turn fuels individual political bias.
The New York Times recently commented, "The claims made by President Yoon Sukyeol and his supporters are strikingly similar to the conspiracy theories of far-right YouTubers," and added, "YouTube's algorithm, which shows users more of the content they prefer, has been criticized for causing confirmation bias, where users only believe what they want to believe. South Korean politics has fallen into this trap, leading to increased polarization." The newspaper went on to describe President Yoon's declaration of martial law as "the world's first rebellion sparked by algorithm addiction."
Jo emphasized, "The risks of filter bubbles on platforms like YouTube and Facebook have already sparked global controversy and can no longer be ignored," adding, "I will continue to closely monitor these issues to ensure that the media can restore its proper function as a democratic public forum."
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