South Korea has started enforcing a law that enables courts to award steep punitive damages against news outlets and social media influencers for spreading false information. The law, which was passed in December, has raised concerns among journalists and civil liberties groups who argue it could chill public discourse and invite censorship.

Concerns Over Censorship

Journalists and civil liberties groups say the law fails to clearly define what information it prohibits and lacks adequate safeguards for the media. They warn it could potentially discourage critical reporting about government officials, politicians, and large businesses. The law allows courts to award damages of up to five times the proven losses against news organizations and large social media channels that circulate illegal, false, or manipulated information to cause harm or generate profit.

Those who distribute information more than twice after a court has confirmed it to be false or manipulated could be fined up to 1 billion won ($656,000) by the country’s media regulator. Internet companies operating large social media platforms with more than 1 million daily users are required to take measures such as removing content or suspending user accounts when they receive reports of false or fabricated information.

Impact on Free Speech

The Journalists Association of Korea said the mere prospect of news organizations repeatedly facing massive damage claims or legal disputes could have an “unavoidable chilling effect.” The Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club also expressed concern about the potential impact on the work of the media and the free flow of information. The law was backed by President Lee Jae Myung’s liberal Democratic Party and passed by the National Assembly in December over a boycott by the conservative opposition.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.