Korean
censorware plans draw fire
http://www.gilc.org/alert/alert53.html
Controversy continues to surround Korean government
plans to block both
domestic and overseas websites.
The Korean
Ministry of Information and Communication is pushing
a special Internet ordinance that essentially would
require blocking software to be installed in cybercafes
and other public computing facilities. A special Information
Communication Ethics Committee already has drawn up
a list of some 119 000 "anti social" sites
that they deem objectionable. This list, which apparently
includes numerous overseas webpages, will soon we provided
to software developers for incorporation within blocking
packages.
Authorities
will also work with Internet service providers to make
sure access to any questionable webpages will be denied;
criminal penalties will be levied on those who aid and
abet access to such sites. However, many questions about
this plan have yet to be answered, including what criteria
will be used to determine which sites should be blocked,
or even the precise pages that have banned.
The measure,
which is expected to take effect this July, has drawn
heavy criticism over its potentially damaging impact
on freedom of expression. Some of these concerns were
aired in a recent meeting at the Sejong Cultural Art
Center in Seoul; at the event, Chang Yeo Kyung from
Jinbonet argued that the proposal will not protect children,
but will only ensure "that the rights of parents
and the public will be seriously violated." Opponents
of the ordinance specifically focused on how virtually
all blocking programs were prone to errors and tended
to block many sites that had no controversial content
whatsoever. These groups are now suing in court in the
hopes of striking down the new restrictions.
See Kim
Deok-hyun, "120,000 Internet sites blacklisted,"
Korea Times, May
2, 2001 at http://www.hankooki.com/kt_tech/200105/t2001050217201245110.htm
See also
Kim Deok-hyun, "Internet Filtering Ordinance Spurs
New Debate,"
Korea Times, Apr. 23, 2001 at
http://www.hk.co.kr/kt_tech/200104/t20010-42316411745110.htm
Read
"Seoul taking action against foreign pornographic
sites," Korea
Herald, Apr. 11, 2001 at
http://www.koreaherald.com/SITE/data/html_dir/2001/04/11/200104110036.asp
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