South Korea's revised online law sparks US congressional protest

South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected claims by U.S. House Judiciary Committee members that the revised Information and Communications Network Act discriminates against American firms. The law, which took effect on July 7, obliges platforms such as Naver, Kakao, Google, Meta and X to delete or block false or manipulated information and includes penalty provisions.

Republican lawmakers led by Committee Chair Jim Jordan and Rep. Scott Fitzgerald sent a letter to the Korean Broadcast Media & Telecom Commission warning that the law’s vague definitions could be used to curb political speech and punish U.S. companies, alleging it violates the U.S.–Korea trade agreement. The Korean government said it will explain the law’s purpose and impact to the U.S. committee.