Product reviews on online shopping sites and Q&A comments on Naver can now be deleted as they fall under ‘right to be forgotten’ category. (image credit: Kobiz Media)
SEOUL, June 21 (Korea Bizwire) – Product reviews on online shopping sites and Q&A comments on Naver can now be deleted as they fall under ‘right to be forgotten’ category.
The guidelines for ‘right to be forgotten’ limitations distributed to Internet business entities have been updated, said an official from the Korea Communications Commission on Monday, June 20.
However, product reviews on online shopping malls or Q&A comments are usually written by users with the intention of gaining points or requesting some sort of benefits, thus some point out that the ‘right to be forgotten’ cannot be applied across the board.
“Since the ‘right to be forgotten’ policy is being put into action to protect the privacy of Internet users, any compensation given to users shouldn’t be taken into consideration for this matter,” said the official.
As such, if users request that an Internet business hide their reviews or posted comments, website administrators will now required to make them “blind” or hidden from other users. Other users’ comments posted on Naver Q&A board will also go “blind”.
The ‘right to be forgotten’ concept came into practice when comments or photographs posted on Internet websites in the past started to have a negative impact on employment, marriage, and other social relationships.
Even when content cannot be deleted because users have canceled memberships, a formal request to make the contents “blind” can be submitted to a website administrator along with proof that the person submitting the request is the one responsible for posting the content in question.
The ‘right to be forgotten’ guidelines came into effect this month, yet carry no legal binding force. Internet business entities are expected to autonomously comply with the guidelines.
By Nonnie Kim (nkim@koreabizwire.com)
