Last week, we reported on the issue of Internet free speech in South Korea and Google's decision to bypass a Korean regulation requiring sites with over 100,000 visitors to verify users' identities with a national ID card number when they upload content. Now, the Hankyoreh reports that tensions are rising in the Korean government over the decision:
An official at the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), who wished to remain nameless, said Thursday that the KCC was "in an uproar" over Google's April 9 decision. "The people higher up said that they could not just leave Google alone and told us to find something to punish them with, so the related team is researching possible illegalities," the official said.
Initially, the KCC reacted tepidly, calling the case "not something to take administrative measures over," but in just a few days, it has taken a 180-degree turn. According to sources, the KCC has apparently made the determination that Google's decisions have represented an evasion of regulations and that it is not a situation that they can leave alone as a regulatory authority.
On Monday, NewTeeVee reported that Germany is considering a similar registration system, where even viewers of online video content would need to provide their full name, address and federal ID card number.
Hat tip: paidContent.org
-Jeff
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