Prime Minister urges strict action against fake news, warns of AI threats before elections
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok stated on the 26th, “Black propaganda that misleads the public about government policies and falsely defames government officials is an enemy of democracy.”
The Prime Minister made these remarks during a ministerial meeting on responding to fake news held at the Government Seoul Complex earlier that day. He said, “The damage caused by fake news is serious. It is becoming increasingly severe, combined with the commercial nature of online platforms, and fake news generated through AI, artificial intelligence, is also emerging.”
He added, “Ahead of various elections or primaries, fake news and black propaganda that mislead the public about government policies, falsely defame government officials, and undermine specific candidates or parties are enemies of democracy.” This suggests the possibility of cracking down on criticism of government policies or officials by labeling them as fake news or black propaganda.
Emphasizing strict measures, the Prime Minister stressed, “Eradicating such acts without any leniency is the way to protect democracy.” He continued, “While ensuring maximum freedom of expression, any intentional creation and distribution of fake news — regardless of form or intent — to disrupt political or electoral order must be addressed strictly according to law and principles.” Specifically, he urged, “The Korea Media and Communications Commission should strengthen its role as the government’s control tower, and prosecutors and police must conduct swift and thorough investigations to completely eliminate fake news.”
The Prime Minister also warned, “We must consider the possibility of fake news generated via AI being disseminated right before elections, influencing results,” adding, “As global concerns about this rise, we must prepare with heightened vigilance, unlike in the past.”
He concluded, “Those who create political false accusations and fake news, as well as the forces behind them, will never be tolerated, regardless of their status,” and requested, “I ask the public to help build a mature democratic society by remaining vigilant against fake news.”
