Songpa-gu, the Nation's First to Operate COVID-19 Internet Quarantine Team... Why?

Take measures to identify and delete unnecessary information related to Songpa-gu COVID-19 confirmed cases existing on the internet such as mom cafes, blogs, Twitter, and Facebook

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) will operate the nation's first COVID-19 Internet Prevention Team.

The Songpa-gu COVID-19 Internet Prevention Team searches for unnecessary information related to Songpa-gu COVID-19 confirmed cases on the internet, including mom cafes, blogs, Twitter, and Facebook, and takes measures to have such information deleted.

Songpa-gu has rolled up its sleeves to prevent issues such as invasion of privacy of local residents, stigmatization effects, and economic damage to visited businesses caused by unnecessary disclosure of COVID-19 confirmed case information.

In fact, the Central Disease Control Headquarters guided on April 12 through the "COVID-19 Confirmed Patient Movement Path and Information Disclosure Guide (2nd edition)" that information such as movement paths should not be disclosed after 14 days have passed since the confirmed patient last contacted others.

Accordingly, local governments including Songpa-gu, which temporarily disclosed related information to prevent local spread of COVID-19, have deleted such information. However, unnecessary confirmed case information still exists on internet platforms such as mom cafes, blogs, Twitter, and Facebook, raising concerns about secondary damage.

The Songpa Internet Prevention Team, the first of its kind nationwide, will resolve this issue. As part of the COVID-19 public job project, the Songpa Internet Prevention Team is expected to contribute to job creation and produce a twofold effect, Songpa-gu explained.

The Songpa Internet Prevention Team operates based on its own searches and reports received through the "Songpa-gu Internet Prevention Report Center" on the Songpa-gu Office website. It plans to request voluntary deletion cooperation from operators of internet spaces where the information is posted.

In particular, Songpa-gu announced it will establish a cooperative system with the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA). COVID-19 confirmed case information that is not voluntarily deleted will be monitored by the Songpa Internet Prevention Team and forwarded to KISA.

KISA will directly recommend deletion to portal sites and related platforms. Efforts will be made to thoroughly delete and block COVID-19 confirmed case information.

Additionally, Songpa-gu will run a "COVID-19 Confirmed Case Information Deletion Campaign" on the Songpa-gu Office website and SNS to encourage voluntary deletion and participation by local residents. Along with banners and animated videos to inform the public, an SNS event offering small gifts will also be held.

Songpa-gu operates a COVID-19 Internet Defense Team to prevent privacy invasion and stigmatization of COVID-19 confirmed patients caused by unnecessary information disclosure.

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, "We expect to solve problems such as unnecessary exposure of confirmed patients' private lives and business revenue decline due to stigmatization," and added, "We will spare no support to erase the bad memories caused by COVID-19 and fill them with hope."

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