thisman
2009-10-31, 03:27 PM
Koo Bonkwo, reporter for the Korean newspaper Hankyoreh, reports that Google is facing an investigation for its refusal to abide by a law that it must verify the real names of Korean users if they upload files or leave comments.
Google disabled its YouTube Korea site so that no one can upload videos or leave comments and so that it wouldn't have to collect people's real names. Google said the law was against its principles of supporting free expression on the Internet.
It said Koreans could still upload videos and leave comments by using other countries' version of YouTube.
The Korean government however, is reported to be angry by Google's actions. The Hankyoreh reports:
"... Korea Communications Commission Chairman Choi See-joong, a close aide and personal mentor to the president, says he has ordered a legal review of Google. This order follows the company’s decision to voluntarily disable the upload and comment functions of its YouTube Korea site, something he called sang’eop-jeok nun garigo aung, translating to something approximate to a “transparent commercial move." An official with the KCC confirmed that the legal review would investigate whether or not "Google has engaged in illegal activities in any of the various services it operates in South Korea." ..."
Google has a tiny share of the Korean market and it appears to be using its stand against the 'real name verification' law to win new users among Koreans that want to bypass the same law:
"...On Wednesday, the National Assembly Research Service issued a report in which it mentions the possibility that South Korea’s internet portal companies could suffer if the current bills to revise internet regulations are made into law as it may prompt large numbers of “cyber defections” in which Korean internet users flock to overseas portals...."
The South Korean government is trying to clamp down on opponents through new laws that provide its agencies with unprecedented levels of monitoring and regulation. Koreans are worried that the government's actions are harming the country's image:
"...the standing regulations also hurt the Internet industry and are giving South Korea an international reputation for being a country that suppresses the freedom of expression...."
source: siliconvalleywatcher.com
Google disabled its YouTube Korea site so that no one can upload videos or leave comments and so that it wouldn't have to collect people's real names. Google said the law was against its principles of supporting free expression on the Internet.
It said Koreans could still upload videos and leave comments by using other countries' version of YouTube.
The Korean government however, is reported to be angry by Google's actions. The Hankyoreh reports:
"... Korea Communications Commission Chairman Choi See-joong, a close aide and personal mentor to the president, says he has ordered a legal review of Google. This order follows the company’s decision to voluntarily disable the upload and comment functions of its YouTube Korea site, something he called sang’eop-jeok nun garigo aung, translating to something approximate to a “transparent commercial move." An official with the KCC confirmed that the legal review would investigate whether or not "Google has engaged in illegal activities in any of the various services it operates in South Korea." ..."
Google has a tiny share of the Korean market and it appears to be using its stand against the 'real name verification' law to win new users among Koreans that want to bypass the same law:
"...On Wednesday, the National Assembly Research Service issued a report in which it mentions the possibility that South Korea’s internet portal companies could suffer if the current bills to revise internet regulations are made into law as it may prompt large numbers of “cyber defections” in which Korean internet users flock to overseas portals...."
The South Korean government is trying to clamp down on opponents through new laws that provide its agencies with unprecedented levels of monitoring and regulation. Koreans are worried that the government's actions are harming the country's image:
"...the standing regulations also hurt the Internet industry and are giving South Korea an international reputation for being a country that suppresses the freedom of expression...."
source: siliconvalleywatcher.com