Rep. Jim Jordan, House Republicans raise alarms over new South Korean 'fake news' law

Rep. Jim Jordan and other House Republicans have raised concerns over South Korea's new online regulations, which they claim could enable the government to censor free speech and stifle opposing viewpoints. The lawmakers sent a letter to South Korea's Media and Communications Commission, citing a recently adopted amendment to the country's data privacy law that took effect in July.

This amendment allows the government to impose fines on media outlets and content publishers with over 100,000 subscribers if they intentionally spread false information. Jordan and his Republican colleagues fear the law could be used to target American companies and their users, potentially violating their constitutionally protected rights.

The amendment, which aims to protect citizens from illegal and fabricated false information, received criticism from journalists and civil liberties groups in South Korea due to its vague definition of "false information" and potential for government abuse. The letter also highlights the similarity between South Korea's amendment and the European Union's Digital Services Act, suggesting that South Korea may be following the EU's lead in adopting similar legislation.