"Wanting Attention" Teen Arrested for Spreading COVID-19 Fake News on YouTube

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] A teenage boy who spread fake news related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) through a personal YouTube broadcast was caught by the police and booked.

On the 17th, the Cyber Investigation Unit of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency announced that they arrested A (16) on charges of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., and booked him without detention.

A is suspected of spreading false information related to COVID-19 twice through his YouTube broadcast from the 4th to the 6th of last month.

On YouTube, A broadcast false information through subtitles, saying, "Today, a woman in her 40s who traveled to Thailand was reported as the 16th confirmed case, but that is fake news," and "In reality, the 16th confirmed case is a 12-year-old elementary school student."

In particular, it was also investigated that he spread fake news stating, "The 27th patient occurred in Jamsil and was infected by the 16th patient."

During the police investigation, A reportedly stated, "I spread false information because I wanted to get attention."

Meanwhile, the police have arrested five people, including A, who spread fake news related to COVID-19 recently, and have deleted or blocked 21 pieces of false information.

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