South Korea Advances Online Transparency Measures, Scales Back “Fake News” Penalties
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South Korean lawmakers are moving forward with a two-pronged approach to regulating online content, proposing legislation that would both mandate the display of users’ country of origin on online posts and roll back controversial punitive damage provisions within a recently enacted “false information” law. The proposals, submitted January 15, 2026, signal a shift in strategy regarding online speech and accountability.
Tracking Online Origins with New Access Labeling System
The People Power Party has proposed an amendment to the Information and Communications Network Act that would require platforms to display the country of access for all users posting comments or other content. According to lawmakers, the aim is to identify the geographic source of online activity. “The goal is to find out which country the article was written in,” a representative explained. This move comes after concerns were raised regarding the origin of certain online posts, as highlighted by CEO Jang Dong-hyuk on January 10th, who noted a case involving an obscured access location.
Revisions to the “False and Manipulated Information Eradication Act”
Simultaneously, the People Power Party is seeking to amend the Information and Communications Network Act to remove provisions for punitive damages from the “False and Manipulated Information Eradication Act,” which was passed in December of last year. The original legislation allowed for penalties of up to five times the amount owed to businesses impacted by the spread of “false information.”
Representative Choi clarified that the amendment seeks to eliminate these punitive damages, stating, “We have deleted the part requiring punitive damages in the range of up to 5 times the amount to be paid to related businesses that spread so-called ‘false information’.” This change, Choi added, is a direct response to concerns voiced by the international community, media groups, and civic groups regarding potential overreach and restrictions on free speech.
The move represents a significant softening of the initial legislation, which had drawn criticism for its potential to stifle legitimate reporting and online discourse. The proposed amendments, submitted to the National Assembly’s Legislation Department, are now subject to review and debate. The lawmakers submitting the amendments included Representatives Choi Hyeong-du, Kim Jang-gyeom, Park Chung-kwon, and Choi Su-jin, all members of the Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee.
These legislative efforts reflect a growing global debate over how to balance the need to combat misinformation with the protection of fundamental rights to freedom of expression. The outcome of these proposals will likely set a precedent for similar legislation in other countries grappling with the challenges of online content regulation.
