“In recent years, there has been a rapid growth of so-called fake news laws around the world. Many of these laws have been passed in authoritarian countries. These laws are extremely problematic for freedom of the press, as vague concepts like fake news can easily be abused to censor critical media coverage. We urge democratic countries like South Korea not to join this trend. This was a very problematic bill that should not be rushed through the legislative process. In its current form, the bill should be completely withdrawn. It is essential that any changes to existing legislation take fully into account the views and concerns of media outlets and journalist associations. The role of the consultative body, which should be comprised of independent experts, is to ensure that this proposed legislation does not infringe on freedom of expression and that it respects international standards.”
06 Sep 2021
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