US House Republicans express concern over South Korea's new 'fake news' law

US Lawmakers Raise Concerns

House Judiciary Committee Republicans, led by Chair Jim Jordan, sent a letter to South Korea's Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) on Thursday. The letter expresses concern over recently adopted online regulations in South Korea, which they believe could allow the government to censor free speech and target opposing viewpoints.

South Korea's 'Fake News' Law

The amendment to South Korea's data privacy law, dubbed the "fake news" law, took effect in July. It permits the government to issue fines of up to 1 billion won (over $700,000) to media outlets and content publishers with over 100,000 subscribers if they intentionally spread false information. The Korean National Assembly adopted this amendment in December as part of the Information and Communications Network Act, aiming to protect citizens from fabricated false information.

Threat to Free Speech and US Companies

Republicans argue that the law poses a significant threat to online speech and expression, potentially allowing the KMCC to punish American companies and their users for exercising constitutionally protected rights. They highlight that the law does not clearly define "false information," making it susceptible to abuse for targeting politically disfavored opinions. Lawmakers also suggested the amendment is specifically aimed at American companies like YouTube.

Opposition and Impact

The law has also faced opposition from journalists and civil liberties groups within South Korea. US Representatives, including Scott Fitzgerald, Darrell Issa, and Michael Baumgartner, signed the letter, emphasizing that no foreign government should pressure American companies into censoring protected speech. They stated that Congress will continue to examine efforts by foreign governments to export censorship.