Web Abuse Crackdown Has Opposite Effect

In the wake of intensifying regulation against net misbehavior, including legal action against those who posted abusive replies on the internet, websites that condone slanderous language, and Internet communities that encourage abusive replies are spreading more than ever.

The number of subscribers for a site known for inciting foul language was just 40 to 50 on a daily basis, but soared to 500 to 600 daily beginning last weekend.

The site “Sibal” (www.cibal.co.kr) had as many as 250,000 subscribers when it was established in 2003 but saw its subscribers drop to 40,000. However, 7,000 people newly became members of the site just last week alone. The occupations held by subscribers also vary, ranging from students to housewives to middle–aged office workers.

In addition, the number of members for 20-30 internet communities encouraging the use of abusive replies, which are in operation on internet portal sites, are also increasing.

It appears that the malicious sites are spreading in opposition to the indictment in which 14 netizens who posted abusive replies to the article on the death of Lim Soo-kyeong’s son were fined one million won on January 26, and to the measure to regulate slanderous replies on internet portal sites.

The netizens who join malicious sites and internet communities encouraging the use of abusive replies are resisting the above plans, saying that the regulation suppresses freedom of expression.

The host of Sibal, Ahn Hyeong-ryeol (38), said, “Although there are some extremely abusive remarks posted based on one’s emotions rather than on one’s logic, it is not right to arrange regulation prior to introducing a way to purify the site by itself.”

However, some point out that these malicious sites and communities aiming at the use of abusive replies are also full of insults and foul remarks against a certain person, and that it is difficult to escape the controversy over cyber violence.

A manager of the organization for internet ethics, Jeong Jin-wook, noted, “It is right to apply the regulation of cyber violence to these malicious sites, and the abusive replies issue should be fundamentally tackled through the reinforcement of cyber ethics education.”

weappon@donga.com