"Even When You Click Close, It Goes to Ads"...BMCC Launches Probe into Inconvenient Online Ads

The Broadcasting, Media and Communications Commission (BMCC) announced on February 12 that it will conduct a fact-finding investigation into value-added telecommunications service providers that inconvenience users by restricting the closing of rectangular advertisements that cover part or all of content on PC and smartphone screens.

Logo of Bangsong Midieo Tongsin Wiwonhoe. Provided by Bangsong Midieo Tongsin Wiwonhoe

Users have experienced inconvenience because, even when they click the close button, they are redirected to advertisements, or because the delete icon is so small that it is difficult to clearly identify its location. The BMCC plans to examine through this investigation whether such practices constitute restricting the deletion of advertisements that unfairly obscure other information under the Telecommunications Business Act.

The BMCC conducts an annual regular inspection on practices that restrict the deletion of inconvenient online advertisements. It decided to carry out fact-finding investigations into value-added telecommunications service providers that have been caught twice cumulatively since last year. As a result of monitoring 300 news sites, a total of 17 providers were found to have been caught twice cumulatively and thus became subject to fact-finding investigations.

The BMCC stated that if any illegal acts are identified through this investigation, it plans to take strict measures in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.

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