YouTube Uses Instagram and Twitter to Run Ads Opposing the 'Network Usage Fee Act'

Encouraging OpenNet Signatures Through Promotion
Full-Scale Power Struggle with the National Assembly

From the left, the official Instagram account of 'YouTube Creators Korea' operated by YouTube and the YouTube Twitter account. YouTube has directly called for a signature campaign opposing Open Net to prevent the legislative discussion of the 'Network Usage Fee Act'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Following Google's direct leadership in organizing the 'Open Net Opposition Signature Campaign' to block legislative discussions on the 'Network Usage Fee Act (Amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act)' on its blog, the company has launched an all-out offensive using social networking services (SNS) such as Instagram and Twitter. With promotional advertisements encouraging signature campaigns, the power struggle with the National Assembly is intensifying.

According to industry sources on the 26th, the official Instagram account of 'YouTube Creators Korea,' operated by YouTube, shared posts stating, "The unprecedented network usage fee-related bill currently under discussion in the National Assembly could have a significant negative impact on the domestic internet ecosystem, the Korean creator community, and YouTube operations," urging participation in the Open Net opposition signature campaign. The profile link also posted a blog article written by Gautam Anand, Vice President of YouTube Asia-Pacific.

On Twitter, external promotional advertisements were also executed. Promotional ads through the official YouTube account included hashtags such as '#NetworkNeutralityProtection' and '#InternetProtectionCampaign,' posting content identical to that on Instagram and encouraging participation in the opposition petition.

Since the public hearing led by the Democratic Party of Korea at the National Assembly on the 20th, Google’s sense of crisis has grown, prompting direct public opinion mobilization. Gautam Anand, Vice President of YouTube Asia-Pacific, suggested the possibility of halting investments in a blog post immediately after the hearing, stating, "This cost imposes a double burden on internet service providers and content companies, which will disadvantage content companies and creators," and "If the law is amended, we may have to consider difficult decisions such as changing the way we operate business in Korea." It is considered unusual for a foreign company’s headquarters to directly voice opposition related to legislation.

By emphasizing the potential harm to domestic content creators as a core message, YouTube is expected to face difficulties in legislative discussions within the National Assembly. Instead of the existing structure between Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Content Providers (CPs), Google has positioned vulnerable creators at the forefront to overturn the situation. Currently, seven related bills are pending in the National Assembly. An industry insider from the startup sector said, "Just as the 'In-App Payment Mandatory Ban Act' gained momentum when creators, including webtoon artists, came forward claiming damages caused by app market operators’ unfair practices, this time Google has put creators’ rights and K YouTubers at the forefront, so the National Assembly will not be able to push legislation hastily."

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the 26th, a meeting related to the Network Usage Fee Act, hosted by National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee members Park Wan-joo and Kim Young-joo, is scheduled to be held at the National Assembly, where further discussions are expected.

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