By It looks like anyone looking to use YouTube in Korea will have to do so by first offering their identity:
YouTube, the world’s largest video-sharing Web site, has recently found itself in a difficult position in South Korea, having to decide whether to protect anonymity or follow suit with a government plan to require private information for online users.
Google Inc., YouTube’s parent company, will likely have to make the decision within the year, as the government plans to amend laws to enforce the “real name system,” currently limited to larger Web operators but soon to include smaller ones, starting next year. [Yonhap]
There are definitely some pluses and minuses to requiring the real name registration but I haven’t really made up my mind yet. Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
It is the sad reality. No mistake...
11:31 am on August 19th, 2008 1
The 'real name registration' is officially in place to allow government insitutions to find the identity of people who commit libel online (http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-eastasia.asp?parentid=60686). Just before the last presidential election the National Election Committee also implemented UCC regulations aimed at protecting candidates from 'libelous' attacks (http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/idblog/2008/01/16/the-2007-korean-presidential-elections-and-internet-censorship/).
My take on it is that the main benefit of the internet is as anonymous distribution system that allows anyone to anonymously voice their opinions. And sure, this leads to jerks trolling forums, neo-nazis advocating genocide, and people talking trash about your favorite movie/candidate/religion. It also leads to whistle blowing, less mediated breaking news, more transparent government, lively discussions, and wikipedia. If you force people to reveal their identities online, you lose a lot of the benefits of being "the most wired country in the world".
11:47 am on August 19th, 2008 2
I'm with Matt. I'm also against (or at least unhappy with) libel laws in this country.
There was a blogger earlier this year or sometime last year who truthfully described his problems with his employer but truth is not an excuse for libel in this country and so he was charged with libel. That's a little screwed up.
1:06 pm on August 19th, 2008 3
South Korea's suppression of free speech is even worse than their refusal to suppress mob violence. Google should comply in a way that makes it easy to leave a false trail from one "libelous" post to someone else.
2:00 pm on August 19th, 2008 4
I'm curious if this new law will also cover foreigners as well that sign up for the US YouTube service or will it only be the Korean version?
I can see the good and bad points of the law such as being able to go after people who pass false rumors like with the mad cow madness but it seems that spending money educating the public not to believe the nonsense they hear on the Internet may be a better policy? Nevertheless it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
8:00 pm on August 19th, 2008 5
Opposed.
However, this is Korea. Korea has required ID card numbers to use websites. If Youtube wants to work in Korea, place servers in Korea, well, that's the rules they have to follow. If Korean users go to the US sites, that's different. If the Korean government blocks access to the US sites, fine.
Youtube can play by the rules here or leave, it's just business.
I can only hope that this will not happen in the states.