South Korea Court Rejects Law Banning False IDs on Internet

Seoul – (AFP) – South Korea’s Constitutional Court on Thursday effectively killed off a law which bans Internet users from using false IDs, ruling it a breach of freedom of expression.

Authorities in 2007 started enforcing the law aimed at curbing the country’s notorious cyber-bullying by preventing Internet users from hiding behind false IDs when they write postings on websites.

Eight judges in a unanimous decision ruled the law is unconstitutional.

“The legal phrases related to enforcing the use of real names restrict the freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution and obstruct the formation of free opinions which form the basis of democracy,” it said.

It said public gains must be substantial in order to restrain individual rights to free speech.

The 2007 law led many Internet users to flee to overseas websites to continue using false IDs for postings, putting local websites at a disadvantage against foreign competitors, the court noted.

Under the “Internet real-name system” portals and news media websites which have more than 100,000 visitors per day must record the real IDs of users when they post entries, through resident registration numbers.

Portal operators also must disclose personal information such as names and addresses of cyber-attackers when their victims want to sue them for libel or infringement of privacy.

The law came into existence after cyber-bullying became a social issue in South Korea. Many celebrities fell victim to abuse and malicious attacks by Internet users writing under aliases.

Malicious messages on websites accused celebrities of sex scandals or having had plastic surgery, among other allegations.