Dear Fahd,<div><br></div><div>Caveat being that I have not seen the Judgment, however, based on the Report in the media, this is a win for civil society in South Korea in that privacy and freedom of expression is protected.</div>
<div><br></div><div>As for its evolution (comments from an outsider looking in), I would assume that their constitution is supreme law and therefore in overruling arbitrary legislative provisions where such inconsistencies clash with human rights provisions inspire confidence within the community and also is an excellent stimulus for the business environment especially foreign investors etc in that the judicial system is independent from its legislative body.</div>
<div><br></div><div>It follows therefore that even if arbitrary legislative mechanisms pertaining to the Internet were instituted threatening things like privacy and freedom of expression, that they can be subject to judicial review or constitutional redress.</div>
<div><br></div><div>That being said, you are right Fahd in wondering how it will evolve because if the Entertainment Industry and politicians become subject to the watchful eye of the wonderful Korean people, the real test is maintaining would be the separation of powers.</div>
<div><br></div><div>I understand that there are some who may think what "Separation of Powers" and the "Rule of Law" have to do with an open and free internet - I would say virtually alot. Consider the example that Fouad posted not too long ago in relation to the a Politician in Pakistan arbitrarily exercising his power and exerting his influence on the Regulators who had to "censor" content. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Thoughts from the far seas,</div><div>Sala</div><div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 5:49 AM, Fahd A. Batayneh <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:fahd.batayneh@gmail.com" target="_blank">fahd.batayneh@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Quite an interesting move by the Korean government. I wonder how it will evolve on the long run.<br><br>Fahd<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">
<div><div class="h5">On Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 4:27 PM, Salanieta T. Tamanikaiwaimaro <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro@gmail.com" target="_blank">salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
</div></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><div class="h5"><div>Source: <a href="http://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?artid=201208241354087&code=790101" target="_blank">http://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?artid=201208241354087&code=790101</a> accessed 27/8/12</div>
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<dl style="margin:0px;padding:0px;list-style:none"><dt style="margin:0px 0px 4px;padding:0px;list-style:none;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:Georgia;font-size:24px;line-height:26px">Internet "Real Name" Law Violates the Constitution, Of Course</dt>
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<div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(153,153,153);float:left;font-size:11px"><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Posted on : 2012-08-24 13:54</div></div><div style="margin:0px;padding:0px;float:right">
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<a title="미투데이" alt="미투데이" href="http://me2day.net/posts/new?new_post[body]=%22Internet+%26quot%3BReal+Name%26quot%3B+Law+Violates+the+Constitution%2C+Of+Course%22%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fenglish.khan.co.kr%2Fkhan_art_view.html%3Fartid%3D201208241354087%26code%3D790101&new_post[tags]=khan" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;color:rgb(71,71,71);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:none"></a></li>
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<div>The Constitutional Court has decided that the Internet "real name" policy is unconstitutional. <br style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">The judges unanimously voted that clause 5 of article 44 in the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, which requires websites with more than an average of 100,000 visitors a day to verify the real name of the user when the person posts on the website, violated the Constitution. <br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">
<br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">We welcome the court's decision to protect the freedom of speech by abolishing this anachronistic regulation.<br style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">The court ruling was mainly supported by the fact that the real name policy infringes the users' right to free speech and to determine personal information, along with the operators' freedom of speech. The court pointed out, "If we are to restrict freedom of expression, public interests we would thereby acquire must be clear. <br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">
<br style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><div style="margin:5px auto;padding:0px;text-align:center;width:548px"><div style="margin:0px;padding:3px;border:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);background-color:rgb(245,245,245);width:548px">
<img style="margin:0px;padding:0px;border:none" hspace="1" vspace="1"><p>On August 23 at the Constitutional Court, the judges are seated to announce their decision that the Internet real name policy is unconstitutional. From the left are the justices, Lee Jung-Mi, Song Doo-Hwan, Lee Dong-Heub, Kim Jong-Dae, Lee Kang-Kuk, Min Hyeong-Ki, Mok Young-Jun, Park Han-Chul. Yonhap news</p>
</div></div><br style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">We have yet to see a sharp decline in illegal postings, and with users fleeing to overseas websites, the policy has caused reverse discrimination between domestic and overseas businesses. Taking these factors into consideration, it is difficult to say that we have contributed to public interest." <br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">
<br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Apparently, the court has agreed with most of the arguments made by the civic society in their efforts to abolish the real name system.<br style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">
The real name policy was introduced in 2007 to prevent harmful consequences of vicious comments made anonymously. Originally, it was targeted to websites with more than 300,000 visitors a day, but in 2009 the number was lowered to 100,000 visitors, forcing most major websites to follow the policy. <br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">
<br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">However, people criticized the system, questioning its effectiveness and claiming that it only obstructed free speech. As a series of large scale hacking incidents occurred at sites run by Auction, SK Communications, and KT, people pointed out that the policy only encouraged leaks in personal information.<br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">
<br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Since the candlelight rallies, the Lee Myung-bak government has constantly tried to put a gag on the Internet by reinforcing the real name system and by arresting the Internet columnist known as Minerva. They claimed that they were preventing libel, but underneath their claims is an anti-democratic mind that is trying to muzzle unfavorable press coverage. <br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">
<br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Why else would <i style="margin:0px;padding:0px">The New York Times</i> point out, "Online anonymity is essential for political dissidents... and for corporate whistle-blowers," criticizing Korea's real name policy last year?<br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">
<br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Hiding behind online anonymity and spreading false rumors or slandering someone with abusive words is clearly an act of violence. However, the court's decision has confirmed that implementing a real name policy to control these actions is like burning the house down to roast the pig. <br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">
<br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">Some are concerned that this decision may have side effects, such as the defamation of celebrities online. However, these wrongdoings can be punished by tracing the Internet address of the user. <br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">
<br style="margin:0px;padding:0px">The increase in freedom of speech may bring some discomfort for the time being, but still it is something we should bear. As the Constitutional Court pointed out, "The freedom of expression is an important constitutional value, which is the basis of democracy."</div>
<span><font color="#888888">
</font></span></div><span><font color="#888888"><div><br></div>-- <br><div>Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala</div><div>P.O. Box 17862</div><div>Suva</div><div>Fiji</div><div><br></div><div>Twitter: @SalanietaT</div>
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