시사ㆍ정치 인터넷 개인방송 물질적 이해관계 공개 의무 도입에 관한 제언(提言)

Abstract

It is not an exaggeration to say that the free market of ideas does not function in the Internet personal broadcasting ecosystem of current affairs and politics in South Korea, rather it serves as an obstacle. Moreover, the ecosystem of the Internet personal broadcasting domain is a high-selective media environment where selective disclosure according to user preferences has been generalized, even from a technical perspective. In other words, as the Internet personal broadcasting of current affairs and politics is used more, it does not mean participating in the free market of ideas but eventually deepens the confirmation bias, thereby entailing a risk that politics is likely to be polarized. From that perspective, it is necessary to enhance the quality of Internet personal broadcasting that exerts a certain level of influence regarding current affairs and politics. This does not mean that fair contents like traditional media are required. Internet personal broadcasting has no obligation to do that. It requires content that at least acknowledges the existence of opponents and attempts to persuade them who are different parties from the perspective of diversity, not simply intending to maintain influence within the own party even if maintaining strong partisanship. However, speaking on the Internet personal broadcasting is no different from having a private conversation in a park. The only difference is that communication is accomplished through the internet solely, which is the delivery means of expression. Moreover, in the case of the Internet personal broadcasting of current affairs and politics that are about to be regulated, the main content is likely to be political expressions that receive relatively strong protection. Therefore, it is not appropriate to directly regulate the contents of Internet personal broadcasting regarding current affairs and politics, rather, it is reasonable to adopt indirect and formal regulatory means for them. From this perspective, it is possible to consider introducing an ‘obligation to disclose material connections in Internet personal broadcasting of current affairs and politics’ as a measure to fundamentally maintain the free market of ideas by seeking and promoting the qualitative enhancement of Internet personal broadcasting under the reasonable checks of readers and users through a ‘disclosure of material connections in Internet personal broadcasting of current affairs and politics.’