Jeonnam Police Investigate 13 Cases Including COVID-19 False Information and Document Leaks

Deletion and Blocking of 20 Cases Involving Clear False Manipulated Information and Personal Data Leakage Concerns

Continuous Monitoring of Fake News Production, Document and Personal Data Leakage Activities, Strict Crackdown Planned

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] As Jeonnam police take strong action against COVID-19 fake news, it is known that they are investigating 9 cases of false and fabricated information (defamation, obstruction of business) and 4 cases of official document and personal information leaks.

The Cyber Crime Investigation Unit of Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency announced on the 10th that they have arrested 7 suspects who spread false and fabricated information online causing public anxiety and social confusion related to the spread of COVID-19, or leaked official documents and personal information.

In addition, they promptly requested the Korea Communications Standards Commission or site operators to delete and block 20 cases of false information (18 cases of official document leaks, 2 cases of false and fabricated information) that could cause significant social confusion.

Key related cases are as follows.

Regarding official document and personal information leaks, on the 11th of last month, an internal report document created at a certain public health center (including personal information and movement paths of specific individuals related to suspected patients) was leaked externally and spread through SNS and local community sites, leading to the arrest of public official A on charges of leaking it.

Regarding the production and distribution of false and fabricated information and personal information leaks, on the 23rd of last month, the initial poster B, who posted on SNS unverified false information that "OO is a Shincheonji church and Shincheonji believers visited a certain business," and intermediary C are under investigation, and public official D, who leaked B’s personal information related to the spread of the false and fabricated information, was arrested.

Jeonnam police stated, “We will thoroughly investigate and strictly respond not only to the initial producers but also to the intermediaries involved in the production and distribution of false and fabricated information, tracing the entire production and distribution route, and will also take strict action against various personal information leaks such as official document leaks by public officials.”

They also stated, “We will firmly investigate mask sales fraud and hoarding of masks and other hygiene products that exploit public anxiety.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.