ed SNS campaigning
Crackdown should not sap freedom of expression
The growing use of Twitter, Facebook and other social networking services (SNS) has a tremendous impact on our daily lives. It is no surprise that SNS is emerging as a new campaigning tool ahead of the Oct. 26 Seoul mayoral by-election. Such services, however, have yet to provide an ideal method to revolutionize campaigning.
Despite their merit, the social media are raising concerns about illegal campaigning. The National Election Commission and the prosecution have launched a crackdown on illegal SNS campaigning. Their intention is to prohibit SNS users from engaging in mudslinging or character assassination against certain candidates.
On Tuesday, a district court ordered a company worker to pay 1 million won ($870) in fines for waging a campaign against 19 lawmakers of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) through Twitter. The court found it illegal for the accused to propagate slanderous remarks about the legislators before general elections set for next April.
Needless to say, the authorities need to step up their fight against the abuse and misuse of the new communication tools in order to ensure a fair election. As seen in the upcoming by-election, there is vast room for illegal use of SNS as two key rival candidates ― Na Kyung-won of the GNP and lawyer-turned-civic activist Park Won-soon ― have been pitched into a negative campaign.
Against this backdrop, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) has decided to monitor SNS and smartphone apps. No doubt the decision is aimed at preventing users from mobilizing social networking services and mobile communication means to conduct fraud, post obscene material and groundless content and commit other illegalities.
Regrettably, the move is sparking protests from detractors who accuse the regulator of trying to control SNS and other communication methods. The KCC should listen carefully to the voices of the opponents before launching surveillance of the networking services.
The regulator and the law enforcement authorities are required to set objective guidelines to properly crack down on illegal SNS users. Most of all, they should be careful not to infringe on freedom of expression and political rights of users. They must not revive the specter of Big Brother under the name of rooting out illegal electioneering.
They should also maintain political neutrality because their crackdown could be seen as a politically-motivated move to help conservative candidates such as Na. SNS campaigning is usually more beneficial to liberal candidates like Park as they are popular among younger voters using the social media.
SNS could prompt political reform in Korea, if not the revolution that erupted in the Arab world. SNS has a powerful effect that can change lifestyle as well as the world. SNS, if properly and wisely used, can promote diverse opinions and contribute to democracy. The authorities cannot and should not attempt to weaken the function of Twitter, Facebook and other social networks.