Settings

ⓕ font-size

  • -2
  • -1
  • 0
  • +1
  • +2

Gov't to ban kids' access to hate websites

  • Facebook share button
  • Twitter share button
  • Kakao share button
  • Mail share button
  • Link share button

By Lee Kyung-min

The government is seeking to prevent children's access to online communities that advocate hate and discriminatory speech against selective groups of people. The move aims to counter a social rift triggered and widened by extremist, gender-divided online communities _ the far-right troll website Ilbe, frequented almost exclusively by men, and the extreme feminist website WOMAD.

According to a report submitted by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) to Rep. Noh Woong-rae of the Democratic Party of Korea, the commission seeks to revise relevant laws to designate such websites that foster hatred and discrimination as "harmful" to children.

Currently, the KCC can designate websites as harmful if more than 70 percent of their content fails to meet KCC standards. But only pornography or postings promoting gambling are subject to the designation now. Operators of KCC-designated harmful websites are subject to two years in prison or fines of up to 20 million won ($18,000) if they fail to notify the users about the designation or grant access to children.

Discussions to revise the necessary ordinances will be soon underway among the KCC, the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Upon the revision, the KCC will consider designating an increasing number of such "hate-spewing" sites following an investigation with the cooperation of the KCSC.

The measure comes amid growing calls for stern punishment on those who casually post derogatory remarks and degrading materials online feared to be repeated by children whose sense of morals and scrutiny are still developing.

The KCSC reviewed 849 complaints over hate-related content in the first half of this year, which amounted to 63 percent of last year's total figure. It issued 723 orders for correction.

On July 11, a member of WOMAD posted an image of a burnt piece of sacramental bread on which curse words were written, saying she hated the Catholic Church for disallowing women to become religious group leaders and for banning abortion. The stunt drew criticism from religious circles and the public at large for maliciously disrespecting a religion.

Days later, a self-proclaimed Ilbe member, 32, posted four photos he took while having sex with a woman, 74, whom he paid 20,000 won for the intercourse. The photos that showed the genitals of the woman went viral, resulting in over 30,000 signatures at Cheong Wa Dae's online petition calling for harsh punishment of the perpetrator.

Meanwhile, over 1,000 victims of hidden camera crimes sought help from a gender ministry-supervised hotline center within only 100 days of the center opening, according to the ministry.



Lee Kyung-min lkm@koreatimes.co.kr


X
CLOSE

Top 10 Stories

go top LETTER