WHEN BIG BROTHER CONNOTATION SPEAKS OF MONITORING ITS CITIZEN–THE PEOPLE REVOLT AS THE PEOPLES OF S KOREA LEAVES ITS MOBILE MESSENGERS SERVICES FOR ENCRYPTED PROTECTED NEVER SAVED OR MONITORED SERVICES FROM A RUSSIAN COMPANY NO LESS CALLED TELEGRAM–MAKES ONE WONDER WHO HAS MORE CONTROL OF ITS CITIZENS THE NORTH OR THE SOUTH–AS LAWS IN S KOREA CAN NOW PROSECUTE ON FALSEHOOD RUMORS FROM MONITORED MESSAGES

A growing number of Korean users are migrating to foreign mobile messenger services in what is seen as “cyberexile” after the country’s prosecution threatened to step up real-time monitoring of social media to crack down on libelous rumors.

The prosecution’s much-disputed clampdown on online rumors and mobile messages came last week shortly after President Park Geun-hye blasted
groundless online accusations, arguing that those malicious postings would divide the public and damage social cohesion.

Park’s criticism is linked to the prosecution’s unprecedented move to investigate a Japanese journalist for allegedly writing libelous reports on the South Korean president’s whereabouts on the day the Sewol ferry sank in April.

As public outcry rose against the prosecution’s move, the prosecution claimed its monitoring would be limited to malicious commentators on major portals, not messenger services.
But Korean users remain skeptical about its official stance and expressed fear their private messages on mobile apps such as Kakao Talk would be closely monitored by authorities.
The prosecution plans to investigate and, if necessary, indict those who write malicious comments online, even if the injured parties do not file for libel.

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140925000847