News

Home > News

Prosecution Vows Clampdown on Fake News Ahead of Election

News2017-03-18
Prosecution Vows Clampdown on Fake News Ahead of Election

The prosecution has vowed to crack down on the distribution of fake news ahead of the May ninth presidential election.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office made that pledge on Friday during a meeting with senior prosecutors nationwide that was chaired by Prosecutor-General Kim Soo-nam.

The office vowed to arrest those who intentionally produce fake news and people who circulate it.

During the meeting, Kim said fake news is very likely to lead to social conflict and distort election results.

He stressed both the creators and distributors of fake news will be found and punished.

Prosecutors said these individuals will be tracked through IP addresses and information obtained from social media service providers in Korea and abroad.

Phone records and bank accounts will also be traced to find people who are spreading false information. 

Prosecutors in charge of public security have been working under an emergency mode since Friday last week when the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.

They will soon launch a special task force to step up the clampdown of election violators leading up to election day in early May. 

Latest News