Media watchdog sends letter to U.S. lawmakers over Network Act pushback

SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's media watchdog, the Korea Multimedia Communications Commission (KMCC), has informed U.S. Republican lawmakers from the House of Representatives that the revision to the Network Act does not unfairly target American companies. The KMCC's letter, signed by Chairman Kim Jong-cheol and drafted after consultations with relevant ministries, supports the amendment, stating that its purpose is to tackle social harms arising from digital landscape changes and to enhance platform user protection.

The commission emphasized that the new standards will be equally enforced on both domestic and foreign firms, and that measures to safeguard the freedom of speech for media outlets are also included in the revision. The KMCC remains willing to offer additional clarifications to lawmakers in Washington who may require further information.

This communication comes following a letter sent earlier this month by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan, to the KMCC, expressing apprehensions regarding South Korea's revised Information and Communications Network Act. This updated law, implemented in July, aims to curb the dissemination of false information online.

The government asserts that the revision reflects increasing concerns over disinformation in the era of social media and generative artificial intelligence.