By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter

The government intends to impose rules on Internet users, but these attempts could be rendered irrelevant as the Web goes mobile.

Since last year, Korean users have been required to make verifiable real-name registrations when leaving comments or posting files on Web sites with more than 100,000 daily visitors, as part of the government's steps to curb cyber-bullying and libelous claims on the Internet.

However, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) is finding it difficult to enforce the same regulations on the mobile Internet, which looks to be on the verge of exploding due to the popularity of the Apple iPhone and other smartphone models.

Google, reluctant to bend its privacy principles only for Korea, has been blocking users from uploading videos and posting comments on the Korean version of its YouTube online video site, to avoid government requirements for real-name registration.

Google asks users to submit only their IDs, passwords and e-mail addresses to access its online services, although it has been recently requiring mobile-phone text-message verifications for new Gmail accounts.

The company's decision to ban video uploads didn't cause much disturbance for Korean YouTube users as they could easily post their files by choosing a different country preference.

Expecting that the rules would be consistent in the mobile Internet realm, Google banned YouTube uploads from the Motorola Motori, a smartphone powered by the Google-backed Android operating system, when local wireless carrier SK Telecom released the handset earlier this year.

However, this touched off a debate, as the users of iPhone, released by KT, had been enjoying full freedom to upload videos on YouTube through their handsets, without going through the trouble of real-name verification.

The situation is pressing the KCC to decide whether posting YouTube content from smartphones should be allowed or not, an issue that forced KT to briefly delay the release of its first Android-powered handset, from LG Electronics, while awaiting the verdict.

A KCC official said Tuesday that it is legally difficult to restrict YouTube uploads from the mobile devices, when it has ceased to operate a separate Korean language site.

"Last year, YouTube was operating a Korean version of its services at kr.youtube.com, but the address is now directed to YouTube's global site. The global service, which is based on servers in the United States, can't be covered by local Internet regulations, including real-name verification," said Cho Hae-geun, an official from KCC's network ethics policy bureau.

"We will consult with other related government agencies to review the legal issues before announcing our final decision. But the convenience of smartphone users will be considered."

Although Cho's views didn't represent the KCC's conclusive opinion, Google nonetheless found itself criticized by mobile users, who accuse the Internet giant of overreacting.

If the KCC decide to allow YouTube uploads on iPhones, Google Korea officials say that they will allow the same freedom on Android handsets as well.

The awkwardness of extending desktop rules to the mobile devices is even more evident when it comes to games.

A local law that requires all game content to be approved by the state before being made commercially available is proving to be a major letdown.

thkim@koreatimes.co.kr