Govt Seeks to Tame Internet Opinion
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Alarmed at the power of Web activists who were behind candlelit vigils and other anti-government campaigns online, policymakers are moving to institute systems to monitor or influence public opinion in cyber space.
President Lee Myung-bak recently said the Internet could become venomous if not backed by confidence, indicating that his administration is unhappy with Internet users spreading what it considers false rumors or posting malicious criticism of government policies.
Taking a cue from his remarks, the National Police Agency said Wednesday it will establish an ``Internet monitoring team watching over public opinion online; collect information about gatherings and what Internet users think about social issues; and set the record straight about spread groundless rumors.''
For its part, the government plans to expand and further strengthen rules requiring Internet posters to use their names and registration numbers when putting comments on Web sites. The real-name use system on the Internet has only been used on a limited basis.
Rep. Joo Sung-young of the governing Grand National Party said, ``People shielding behind the anonymity of the Internet spreading vicious rumors are troublesome.''
President Lee will appoint a special secretary to study online public opinion, too. On Thursday, Lee said the government had no intention to ``control'' the cyber space.
Control Possible?
However, criticism is rising that the authorities are indeed trying to control the Internet, which is traditionally considered open and free for everyone.
The power of the Internet and people using it was first proven in the 2002 presidential election when the then minor candidate Roh Moo-hyun benefited from an online boom which won him the presidency. Since then, politicians have been keen to woo netizens, who view the Internet as a playground for progressives and youngsters.
However, recent candlelit vigils against the resumption of American beef imports have shown that cyber space could be more than a grumblers' hangout.
Through numerous online communities people shared misleading information about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cows disease and other governmental policies.
Moreover, as Webcasts broadcast the vigils in real time, alleged police violence infuriated people and resulted in a snowballing number of participants at the rallies.
Some people suspect that the government and business sector, already accused of suppression of progressive media, are now trying to control the Internet.
A netizen was fined 500,000 won for describing President Lee as a ``moron'' several times during the elections on his blog. Also, a Daum.net staff member alleged that his company was ordered to close down his Web site as talk about candlelit vigils there got louder.
Some analysts say it is quite natural for the authorities to watch over the Internet, which has surfaced as a major influence in society.
Prof. Koo Ja-soon of Hanyang University said the function of the Internet is crucial. ``If it is just a space for debate or discussion, watchdogs shouldn't be allowed. But if it creates rumors or facts which carry people away, it becomes media, which needs to be refuted or corrected for errors,'' she said.
A free Web-cast site, www.afreeca.com is criticizing the government for arresting its president Moon Yong-shik on charges of alleged copyright infringement. It is alleging that the arrest was politically motivated to suppress Web sites that have been active in criticizing government policies. The site was one that broadcast Webcasts of the candlelit vigils.
``We suspect that the investigation of Afreeca is linked to the political intention to block the further spread of candlelit vigils,'' it said in a statement posted on its homepage.
A lot of Internet users are posting comments on various Web sites, calling for the government to scrap its move to ``control'' cyber world.
In the meantime, businesses joined the criticism of portals. The Korea Advertisers Association (KAA) has asked large portal sites to refrain from letting netizens pour out too many opinions detrimental to a company's business activity.
The request was made after netizens denounced conservative newspapers downgrading the vigils. Some Internet users have campaigned calling for companies not to place ads on the nation's three major conservative papers.
Companies complained that they have received numerous emails or phone calls denouncing the papers and that some people threatened to boycott the products should they proceed with the ads.