"If You Don't Refuse by the 11th, You Can't Use KakaoTalk"...How Did Kakao Respond to the Rumors?

Controversy Over Terms Stating "If There Is No Refusal Within Seven Days, It Will Be Deemed as Consent"
Kakao: "This Is Not True... We Are Revising the Terms to Prevent Misunderstandings"

Kakao image. The Asia Business Daily database

As incorrect information about agreeing to the KakaoTalk terms of service has been spreading mainly through social networking services (SNS), KakaoTalk has moved to contain the situation, stating that it is "not true."

According to the industry on February 11, content claiming that "starting on the 11th, Kakao will collect and use users' usage history and usage patterns without their consent" has been spreading across various social networking services (SNS), including YouTube Shorts (short-form videos). These posts warn users to disable their consent for KakaoTalk's collection and use of location information, additional collection of profile information, and collection of delivery address information.

These claims first emerged in December last year when Kakao revised its integrated service terms and individual service terms ahead of the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) services such as "Kanana" and the enforcement of the Basic AI Act. The revised terms state that Kakao may provide personalized content recommendations and advertisements, and that when the company provides AI-generated outputs, it will notify and label them in accordance with relevant laws. The effective date of these revisions was February 4.

In particular, people have overinterpreted part of the revised terms that says, "If you do not express your intention to refuse within seven days from the effective date of the revised terms, you will be deemed to have agreed, and if you do not agree, the service contract may be terminated."

Kakao: "We cannot freely collect data... separate consent is required"

In response, Kakao explained that the mere presence of such wording in the terms does not mean it can freely collect data, and that under the Personal Information Protection Act, it must obtain separate consent from users if it is to actually collect their usage history or patterns.

Kakao also said that the notice, included in the terms change guidance, that "if there is no indication of refusal within seven days, it will be deemed as consent" only refers to the standard process by which the wording of terms is finalized and applied in typical terms revision procedures, and does not in itself create any automatic authority to collect personal information.

However, some point out that from a user's perspective, the combination of broad language in the terms (such as analysis/summarization and use for advertising) with the notice that "if there is no refusal within seven days, it will be deemed as consent" can create anxiety that personal information may be collected against their will. In response, Kakao plans to delete the clause in the terms that states, "We may mechanically analyze and summarize service usage history and usage patterns to provide personalized content recommendations and advertisements."

A Kakao representative said, "Even though simply revising the terms does not allow us to use usage history and usage patterns without authorization, content on YouTube and other SNS has been spreading the claim that the revision of the terms directly leads to unauthorized use of personal information, which has heightened user anxiety," adding, "We have decided to proactively delete any wording that could cause misunderstanding."

The representative added that Kakao will retain the transparency-focused wording that "AI-based services may be included in the integrated service, and when AI-generated outputs are provided, they will be notified and labeled in accordance with relevant laws."