Investigation on the Protection of Personal Information on the Internet

Intensive investigation is to be made in April on the protection of personal information by the Internet companies like Internet shopping malls and Internet financial sites.

The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) announced on the 29th that it decided to intensively investigate large-scale Internet shopping malls, adult sites, financial sites, educational sites, and ticket reservation sites, where personal information are much likely to be leaked.

It will punish the Internet companies that violated laws with correction order, fine, or criminal accusation.

MIC is likely to examine whether Internet companies abuse the information of members for additional purposes, and whether they inform the object of collecting personal information and the period of holding the information to the members through monitoring and field investigation. And it will prepare general measure to protect personal information after making field investigation on the off-line companies like airlines, tour companies, private educational institutions, and hotels in the second half of this year.

Tae-Han Kim freewill@donga.com