Report from Korea JoongAng Daily
In Brief – South Korea’s recent amendment to the Network Act aimed at suppressing online misinformation quickly sparked sharp criticism from the United States who argued that it risks chilling lawful speech and creates barriers for US technology firms. The legislation allows courts to impose punitive damages for the intentional spread of false or manipulated online content and places new responsibilities on large online platforms, including duties involving content removal, demonetization, and account suspensions. US officials reacted swiftly and publicly, with the State Department saying it raises “significant concerns” about free expression by pushing large platforms into pre-emptive content moderation and could function as a nontariff trade barrier on US-based platforms. The law is also controversial within Korea, with opposition parties, journalists, civil society groups, and lawyers arguing that vague definitions could enable censorship and intimidation of critics, and a petition was lodged with the UN special rapporteur on free expression. The government maintains that the law targets only malicious disinformation and deep fakes.
Context – US industry frustration with various foreign digital policy initiatives was intertwined with the Trump Administration’s aggressive bilateral trade policies throughout 2025, including with Korea. The US Trade Representative criticized Seoul’s proposal to toughen regulation of the largest digital platforms straight away and Korean officials said the issue was not undermine trade talks, and they didn’t. However, if there is a digital issue that most animates the Trump Administration it is alleged online censorship. Some US conservatives are deeply skeptical of Big Tech, but all are wary of efforts to block so-called misinformation and disinformation because they are conditioned to seeing conservative viewpoints targeted online. The EU’s DSA regulation remains a flashpoint, especially in its application to X, and entering that fray by enacting something modeled after the DSA is a bold bilateral policy strategy by the South Korean government.