The Korean National Police Agency is establishing cyber analysis teams within cybercrime investigation units at major provincial police agencies nationwide to expand its response to false and manipulated information, commonly known as "fake news."
Yoo Jae-sung, acting Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency, visited the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency's cybercrime investigation unit on Thursday, which is investigating the case of false rumors about "forced dollar sales," to assess the response to false and manipulated information and announced the plan.
Recently, claims that the government would forcibly sell dollars have spread on internet cafes and blogs amid the prolonged Middle East conflict. In response, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yoon-cheol filed a complaint with police against the original spreaders and active participants.
The cyber analysis teams, an expansion of the existing "Task Force for Cracking Down on False Information Distribution," will deploy a total of 16 personnel across the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (5), Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency (5), Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency (3), and Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency (3).
"The intentional spread of false and manipulated information is a serious crime that amplifies public anxiety and causes social chaos," Yoo said at the site. "Swift detection, blocking, and strong response are paramount."
"We will strengthen preemptive and firm responses, including tracking down and punishing the original spreaders to the end, so that the spread of false and manipulated information can no longer take root," he added.
The establishment of the cyber analysis teams came just two days after President Lee Jae-myung called for a strong response to fake news at a Cabinet meeting on the 6th. Referring to the wartime situation caused by the Middle East conflict, President Lee emphasized that "intentionally spreading fake news that disrupts state affairs is tantamount to rebellion."
With the establishment of these new units, police plan to accelerate response times in the early stages of false information proliferation and strengthen investigative capabilities against online opinion manipulation and acts that create economic instability.