[2020 National Audit] "Proxy System to Block 'Nth Room' Is Ineffective"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Concerns have been raised that the domestic representative system under the Information and Communications Network Act, one of the measures of the 'Nth Room Prevention Act,' is ineffective. The system is supposed to target overseas operators such as Telegram and Google, but it has been revealed that no corrective actions have been taken against domestic representatives.

On the 23rd, Kim Sang-hee, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information and Communications Broadcasting and Communications Committee hearing, “Due to issues such as the leakage of user personal information by Google and Facebook, the domestic representative system is being implemented through the Information and Communications Network Act.”

According to the ‘Request for Submission of User Protection-Related Materials and Progress of Corrective Actions Regarding the Designation of Domestic Representatives under Article 32-5 of the Information and Communications Network Act (enforced March 19, 2019)’ received by Rep. Kim from the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), the KCC has not requested any materials or corrective actions from domestic representatives for one year and six months since the law’s enforcement.

Rep. Kim criticized this, saying, “The domestic representative system was created with great difficulty, but it has become ineffective and does not function properly,” and added, “If the representative system was established, the KCC should request the submission of materials and ensure that the representatives properly fulfill their roles.”

She further pointed out, “When asked whether the KCC has sent any official letters requesting submission of materials or corrective actions, they said none,” and “When asked whether domestic representatives have ever submitted materials according to the Information and Communications Network Act, they also said none.” She emphasized, “It shows that the KCC has no willingness to actively interpret or operate this regulation,” and added, “The domestic representative system was created with great difficulty to correct the global uneven playing field.”

In response, Han Sang-hyuk, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, explained, “Voluntary measures impose a heavy burden on operators,” and said, “We will consider actively operating the system by requesting submission of materials when violations occur.” Chairman Han also responded, “We will actively apply the domestic representative system and continue to find ways to utilize the system.”

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