`Big Brother` fears over Net real-name system

Fifteen civic groups voiced strong opposition here yesterday to the proposed Internet real-name system by the government and ruling Uri Party, raising the specter of "Big Brother" intrusion into everyday life.

The People`s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, with its 12,000 membership base nationwide, and the Korea Progressive Network Jinbonet, an Internet privacy advocate group, were among the groups participating in the joint news conference under the theme, "Strongly questionable alternative: the Internet real-name system."

"The root cause of cyber violence is misplaced here," said one participant. "The Internet real-name system can`t be the ultimate solution against human rights infringements in cyberspace. The Internet real-name system will only leave us with our privacy stolen and freedom of speech chilled."

Civic group members pointed out that cyber crime is certainly not attributable to anonymity in cyberspace but to overexposure of private data that goes unnoticed. Most netizens` low-level notions on privacy were also hinted as a cause.

They said that enforcing the system will only bring up the horrible picture of a "Big Brother" society with flourishing private data on the Web. Specifically, one said, "If the system goes national, cyber comments or shopping lists of a celebrity might be tracked and even sold at high prices."

A member of the People`s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy added that cyberspace has not so much of an anonymous atmosphere as the government and ruling party worry, because most Web sites require a person`s ID and real-name for the first register and IP addresses can be tracked even when not logged on.

They suggested instead two alternative options to crack cyber crimes: widespread education and a campaign to enhance privacy rights and immediate, appropriate responses on human rights infringements by Internet service providers.

(siyoungh@heraldm.com)



By Hwang Si-young