"Critical Comments Disappeared": Controversy Over JTBC Video
Google States, "No Government Request for Comment Deletion"
Google has stated that there was "no request from the government for deletion" regarding allegations that a large number of comments were deleted from the YouTube video of the JTBC variety show "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator," which featured President Lee Jaemyung and First Lady Kim Hyekyung.
President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung appeared on the JTBC variety show "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator." Photo by JTBC YouTube
Hwang Sunghye, Vice President of Public Policy at Google Korea, appeared at the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee audit on October 14, and responded to a question from Assemblyman Choi Hyoungdu of the People Power Party, who asked, "Why were 12,000 comments on the President and First Lady's appearance on 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' deleted?" Hwang replied, "We have confirmed that there was not a single request from the government to delete comments."
Previously, after President Lee appeared on "Please Take Care of My Refrigerator," suspicions were raised that a large number of critical comments had been deleted from the corresponding YouTube video. Some internet users claimed, "All the comments on the President and First Lady's appearance were deleted," and "Critical posts with high numbers of likes disappeared."
In response, the civic group People's Livelihood Countermeasures Committee filed a complaint, stating, "When the video was re-uploaded, the critical comments disappeared," and argued that this act "hindered the formation of normal public opinion."
Hwang Sunghye, Vice President of Google Korea, responding to a lawmaker's question at the National Assembly audit. Photo by Yonhap News
On the same day, Assemblyman Choi pointed out, "According to Google's community guidelines, discussions related to high-ranking officials or leaders are not considered policy violations," and added, "The public must have expressed various opinions about the President and First Lady appearing on a variety show, but these were deleted."
In response, Vice President Hwang explained, "Google has rules called community guidelines for content comments, and comments are deleted if they violate these rules." She continued, "Spam, repetitive comments, and violent language are among the types deleted, and a very large number of cases are removed automatically." She also added, "Channel operators are also granted content management authority."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
