Wie berichtet, plante die Regierung ein Realnamen-System für koreanische Internetuser. Das Gesetz ging seinen typischen Gang und trat jetzt in Kraft, so dass sich ab dem 27. Juli online alle identifizieren müssen: New Rule Requires Netizens to Confirm Identities:
The Ministry of Information and Communication said on Wednesday that the country’s top two Internet portal operators should implement a new identity verification system on Thursday, before the system is applied to a total of 35 online service providers by July 27.
The Restricted Verification Process obliges users to verify themselves with their names and resident registration numbers before leaving comments.
Other Internet portals will be obliged to implement the system by the beginning of July, and online media providers will have to use it by the end of July.
The ministry said, „If all 35 sites started the verification process on July 27 when the new Information and Communications Law goes into effect, it would result in confusion, so we have decided to start the process gradually.“
Offensichtlich gilt die Authentifizierung nur für user-generated content, nicht für den passiven Konsum. Über die dahinterstehende Infrastruktur ist noch wenig bekannt.
Update: asiamedia hat schon früher mehr Details berichtet: Internet news sites balk at real-name use:
Under the guidelines, Internet news sites, such as Ohmynews (www.ohmynews.com) or Pressian (www.pressian.com), which attract millions of readers every day, are required to install name identification programs to message boards linked to their politics section and other articles about the local elections.
To be identified by their real names, the Internet users will be required to reveal their resident registration numbers, a 13-digit code that includes birth date, gender and registration site.
The Internet companies will be slapped with a 5 million won ($5,200) fine if they fail to install the programs for name identification and will, in addition, be fined 500,000 won per day if they fail to install the programs three days after the first warning.
The companies will also be fined one million won if they refuse to delete writings posted under a pseudonym or pen name.
Und sowas im netz- und infrastrukturmäßig fortschrittlichsten Land der Welt, wo 14 Millionen von 15.5 Millionen Haushalten einen schnellen oder sehr schnellen (FTTH) Breitbandanschluss haben.
