People Power Party: No Authority Can Silence Citizens Under Law

People Power Party asserted on July 5 that "no authority can silence the citizens in the name of the law" just two days before the implementation of the amended Information and Communications Network Act.

In a statement, Chief Spokesperson Choi Soo-jin emphasized, "Laws that restrict the freedom of citizens cannot protect them."

Choi criticized the amendment, stating, "The People Power Party strongly opposed the inclusion of provisions that stifle citizens' freedom of expression and obstruct criticism of power during the legislative process. However, the Democratic Party pushed the bill through, ignoring concerns raised by the media, legal experts, academia, and civil society, and now the negative consequences are becoming evident."

She pointed out that the most significant issue with the amendment is the overly vague criteria for determining what constitutes 'false or manipulated information.' "Without clear standards, the expanded scope of regulation creates anxiety that anyone could fall under the law's application," she said.

Choi also highlighted the excessive responsibilities imposed on platforms, stating, "To avoid hefty damages and fines, platforms may be forced to preemptively delete or block posts that have not been clearly determined to be illegal."

She expressed concern that this could lead to a situation where corporate risk aversion takes precedence over judicial judgment, resulting in 'over-deletion' and de facto 'prior censorship' that suppresses legitimate criticism and debate.

"In fact, ahead of the law's implementation, an 'online survival manual' is being shared, leading citizens to self-censor or moderate their expressions," Choi noted. "The fact that citizens are beginning to self-censor before the law even takes effect is a clear indication that this law undermines the free expression of the public."

She concluded by stating, "While we must respond sternly to false information and malicious cyber violence, the constitutional rights to freedom of expression and criticism of power must be upheld. The People Power Party will thoroughly examine any violations of freedom of expression and cases of excessive deletion that arise after the implementation of the Information and Communications Network Act, and we will rectify the problematic provisions regarding vague definitions of false or manipulated information and excessive platform responsibilities."