114,000 Internet Harmful Information Correction Requests in First Half of Year... Increase in Drug-Related Cases

Sharp Increase in Drug Trade Cases

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The Korea Communications Standards Commission announced on the 4th that it took corrective actions such as deletion and access blocking for 114,052 cases of illegal and harmful internet information in the first half of 2022.

The most frequently corrected type of information was related to illegal sports betting and casinos, categorized as ‘gambling’ information (31,209 cases), accounting for 27% of the total.

The type of information with the steepest increase in corrective requests is ‘drug trafficking’ information. Following more than a twofold increase last year, the number reached 12,812 cases in just the first half of this year, and it is expected to exceed 20,000 cases by the end of the year. To respond swiftly, the Commission is promoting the introduction of electronic deliberation methods, which allow decisions to be made in writing (or electronically), through legislative proposals.

Due to an increase in user reports and strengthened monitoring of overseas social networking services (SNS), the number of corrective requests for prostitution-related information reached 8,235 cases. Illegal weapons cases rose significantly to 2,838 from a few hundred previously. This increase is attributed to cooperation with the National Police Agency, which conducted intensive crackdowns on illegal weapons.

The number of corrective requests for cruel and hateful information was 272 cases, surpassing last year’s total of 253 cases. This is the result of focused monitoring on animal abuse information, such as setting fire to live animals or torturing them with electricity.

In particular, the number of corrective requests for digital sex crime information in the first half of this year was 22,038 cases, showing an annual increase. The Commission explained that it is responding promptly by establishing a 24-hour shift system and electronic deliberation for continuous review.

The Commission stated, “Through efficient deliberation, we will do our best to prevent the distribution of increasingly growing illegal and harmful internet information in the rapidly changing communication environment and to protect users.”

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