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Sun, February 5, 2023 | 03:01
Online real name system during election periods constitutional: court
현재 "선거운동 기간 인터넷 실명제는 합헌"
Posted : 2015-07-30 17:02
Updated : 2015-07-30 18:58
Lee Kyung-min
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By Lee Kyung-min

The law that requires Internet users to use their real names when submitting posts online during election campaigns is appropriate, the Constitutional Court ruled Thursday.

A clause in the Election Law forces people to submit their real names when expressing opinions in support of or in opposition to political parties or candidates on websites of media companies or bulletin boards of portals during campaign periods.

Website operators violating this are subject to fines of up to 10 million won.

In a five to four decision, the justices said the measure is needed to help guarantee fair elections and prevent false and unverified information from spreading rapidly without countermeasures to control it.

"It is highly likely that people may believe information shared on media websites and bulletin boards of portals is credible. Election results might be greatly affected by those who maliciously spread false information with the intention of manipulating the public," the court said.

"Lifting the measure might result in smear campaigns, which would hurt society," it added.

The court added that the law does not infringe on freedom of speech or privacy because no personal information other than names is revealed.

The ruling follows a petition in 2013 by Daum Kakao, formerly known as Daum Communications, which refused to pay a 10 million won fine imposed by the National Election Commission (NEC) for failing to prevent people from posting comments about an election under their real names.

However, there is controversy over how the law is enforced inconsistently, because using real names online is not required from citizens outside of election campaign periods.

In a separate ruling in 2012, the court ruled that a law obliging real names for all postings at all times was unconstitutional, saying it infringes on citizens' privacy and freedom of speech.

After that ruling, Internet users have been allowed to post their opinions using multiple online ids outside of election campaign periods.


현재 "선거운동 기간 인터넷 실명제는 합헌"

'선거 공정성 위해 해당 조항 필요'…재판관 5대4로 합헌 결정
위헌 의견 '선거운동 기간만은 의사표현 자유 최대한 보장해야'

선거운동 기간 언론사 홈페이지 등에 후보자나 정당 관련 글을 올릴 때 실명 확인을 하도록 한 공직선거법상 인터넷 실명제가 합헌 결정을 받았다.

헌법재판소는 30일 선거기간 인터넷 실명제를 담은 공직선거법 조항에 대해 재판관 5(합헌) 대 4(위헌) 의견으로 이같이 결정했다.

헌재는 선거기간 언론사 게시판 등을 통해 흑색선전이나 허위사실 등이 유포될 경우 언론사의 공신력과 지명도에 기초해 광범위하고 신속한 정보왜곡이 일어날 수 있다며 선거 공정성 확보를 위해 필요한 조항이라고 판단했다.

헌재는 실명확인에 별다른 시간과 비용이 소요되지 않고, 실명 확인 후에도 글쓴 사람의 개인정보는 노출되지 않는 점을 고려하면 이 조항이 정치적 익명 표현의 자유나 개인정보 자기결정권, 언론의 자유를 침해한다고 볼 수도 없다고 설명했다.

이에 대해 이정미·김이수·이진성·강일원 재판관은 적어도 선거운동 기간만은 국민의 정치적 의사표현의 자유를 최대한 보장할 필요가 있다며 위헌 의견을 냈다.

이들 재판관은 해당 조항은 정치적 의사표현을 자유롭게 할 수 있는 핵심적 기간인 선거운동기간에 익명 의사표현을 불가능하게 하고 있어 선거의 공정성이라는 입법목적 달성에 오히려 장애가 된다고 밝혔다.

인터넷을 이용한 선거범죄에 대해서는 이미 여러가지 제재수단이 마련돼 있는데도 수사 편의와 선거관리의 효율성에만 치우쳐 익명 표현 자체를 제한하는 것은 국민을 잠재적 범죄자로 취급하는 것이라고 설명했다.

선거법 82조 6항은 선거운동 기간 인터넷 언론사 게시판이나 대화방 등에 정당과 후보자를 지지, 반대하는 글을 올릴 때 실명 인증을 받도록 하고 있다. 이를 위반하면 1천만원 이하의 과태료가 부과된다.

인터넷 실명제는 2012년 8월 헌재의 위헌 결정으로 사라졌지만, 선거운동 기간에만 실명제가 부활하는 셈이다.

그동안 선거법상 실명제도 폐지해야 한다는 목소리가 컸다.

중앙선거관리위원회는 헌재 위헌 결정 취지가 반영되려면 선거기간 실명제도 폐지되는 것이 바람직하다고 보고 국회에 선거법 개정 의견을 제출했고, 2012년 9월 진선미 새정치민주연합 의원이 이런 내용을 담은 개정안을 발의하기도 했다.

그러나 이날 헌재의 합헌 결정으로 선거기간에는 실명제가 그대로 유지되게 됐다.

다음커뮤니케이션은 선거기간 실명 확인을 위한 조치를 제대로 하지 않았다는 이유로 과태료 1천만원을 부과받자 2013년 관련 조항에 대해 헌법소원을 냈다.  (연합뉴스)
Emaillkm@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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