South Korea has begun enforcing a revised law aimed at curbing the spread of false and manipulated information online, introducing stricter penalties for offenders even as critics warn the measures could undermine freedom of expression.
The new regulations, which took effect on Tuesday, amend the Information and Communications Network Act and require major online platforms to establish systems for reporting suspected false information while publishing transparency reports every six months detailing complaints received and actions taken.
Under the revised law, individuals found to have deliberately circulated illegal false or manipulated content may be ordered to pay damages of up to five times the actual losses caused. Repeat offenders whose content has been ruled unlawful by the courts also face fines of up to one billion won (approximately $655,000).
The legislation marks a significant shift in South Korea’s approach to tackling online misinformation. Previously, authorities relied largely on defamation laws and civil litigation to address false claims without a dedicated legal framework targeting fake news.
Authorities say the tougher measures are necessary as the country grapples with the growing impact of digital misinformation, particularly following the failed 2024 martial law attempt, which triggered a wave of unfounded online claims, including allegations of Chinese interference in South Korea’s electoral system.
Concerns have also been heightened by recent high-profile cases involving celebrities. One such case saw a right-wing YouTuber indicted for allegedly using artificial intelligence-generated audio to falsely claim that actor Kim Soo-hyun had a relationship with a deceased actress while she was a minor. The allegations sparked widespread controversy, forcing the actor to suspend public appearances and delaying a major project indefinitely.
The revised law also places new obligations on technology companies. South Korean firms Naver and Kakao, alongside US-based platforms Google and Meta, must implement mechanisms allowing users to report suspected false or manipulated content and regularly disclose how such complaints are handled.
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Despite the government’s justification for the reforms, opposition parties, media organisations and civil rights advocates have expressed concerns over the legislation’s potential implications.
Critics argue that the law lacks a precise legal definition of what constitutes false or manipulated information, raising fears that it could be interpreted too broadly and encourage excessive content moderation.
The main opposition People Power Party has repeatedly opposed the legislation, warning that digital platforms may remove legitimate content to avoid regulatory scrutiny while users may refrain from expressing their views for fear of legal consequences.
Party spokesperson Cho Yong-sool said the changes could create an environment where online platforms remove information excessively, investigative journalism is weakened and citizens become reluctant to express their opinions freely.
The Journalists Association of Korea has also called for stronger safeguards to ensure that public-interest reporting and legitimate journalistic activities are protected under the new legal framework.