Nakao Portal Company in "Presidential Election Mode"... "Requests to Delete Candidate-Related Information Should Be Directed to the National Election Commission"

KISO Applies Election-Related Policy Regulations
Temporary Measures for Defamation and Privacy Invasion
"Report to the National Election Commission... Will Follow Its Decisions"

Portal sites such as Naver and Kakao are entering a presidential election preparedness mode. To request temporary blocking (temporary measures) of access to posts related to candidates due to defamation or other reasons, reports must be made to the National Election Commission, not the portals.

Naver Headquarters. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 10th, the Korea Internet Self-Governance Organization (KISO) announced that, with the start of the registration of preliminary presidential candidates following the impeachment of former President Yoon Seok-yeol, it will apply policy regulations regarding election-related internet information service standards to all member companies including Naver, Kakao, and Nate. These regulations will be applied until the point when the presidential election results are confirmed.

According to the Information and Communications Network Act, information and communication service providers may take temporary blocking measures on access to information distributed by their services if it is recognized that such information infringes on others' rights, such as privacy invasion or defamation.

For about two months until June 3, the date of the 21st presidential election, KISO member companies have agreed to guide candidates and others to report to the National Election Commission when requesting temporary measures related to election-related posts and to follow the decisions of the Election Commission.

The term "candidates and others" refers to ▲ candidates and preliminary candidates ▲ those officially confirmed as candidates of political parties ▲ those who have officially announced their intention to run ▲ candidates in party primaries or those who have officially announced their intention to run in primaries ▲ and spouses, direct ascendants or descendants, or siblings of the aforementioned individuals.

Kakao Pangyo Ajit in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Temporary measures on posts related to candidates during the election period will only be carried out based on the decisions of the National Election Commission. Accordingly, candidates and others must request measures from the Election Commission, not KISO member companies.

If candidates and others request deletion or exclusion of related search terms and autocomplete search terms, KISO member companies will, in principle, not comply. Regarding this, KISO explained that this is "to protect the fairness of the election and to more broadly guarantee voters' right to know and freedom of expression."

KISO has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Election Commission to establish a cooperative system regarding the handling of posts during the election period. During the election period, KISO and the Election Commission will establish a hotline and share cases of violations of the Public Official Election Act when discovered, taking appropriate measures.

KISO member companies include portal sites such as Naver, Kakao, Nate, and Zoom Internet, as well as internet communities like Clien, Oneul-ui Yoomuh (Today’s Humor), Ppomppu, and Inven.