ID :
31606
Sat, 11/22/2008 - 08:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/31606
The shortlink copeid
S. Korean rights watchdog urges Web sites to ease foreigner ID check
SEOUL, Nov. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's rights watchdog on Friday urged website
operators to simplify identification procedures to allow foreigners greater
access to online services that often require ID numbers.
Internet shopping malls, online bank services and most information sites here
generally require visitors to register both their name and ID number to prevent
identity theft. The rule prevents foreign tourists and short-term foreign
residents from accessing the sites as ID numbers are not issued to them.
The National Human Rights Commission "made recommendations to the chiefs of the
four identification service agencies to come up with measures to provide
identification services for foreigners and to the Korea Communications Commission
to develop a new system that is non-discriminatory toward foreigners," the
watchdog said in a press release.
According to the information protection law, private firms whose online visitors
surpass 100,000 people a day and government-run agencies are required to check
the identification of their users to protect them from identity theft.
The restriction, however, can be discriminatory toward foreigners who stay in
Korea less than 90 days and are not entitled to a foreign ID number, the watchdog
found.
Website operators should provide alternative identification measures, such as
emails or credit card numbers that are widely used in other countries, the
watchdog said, noting the growing use of Korea's online services abroad.
"We're living in an information age, in which a considerable part of our economic
activity is performed on the Internet. It is discriminatory that some foreign
residents, regardless of their legal status, are blocked from such activity
because of the term of their stay here," said Lee Seok-jun, an official with the
watchdog who focuses on immigrant rights.
The four identification service agencies named by the watchdog are the Korea
Association of Information and Telecommunication, National Information and Credit
Evaluation Inc., Seoul Credit Rating & Information Inc. and Korea Information
Service Inc.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
operators to simplify identification procedures to allow foreigners greater
access to online services that often require ID numbers.
Internet shopping malls, online bank services and most information sites here
generally require visitors to register both their name and ID number to prevent
identity theft. The rule prevents foreign tourists and short-term foreign
residents from accessing the sites as ID numbers are not issued to them.
The National Human Rights Commission "made recommendations to the chiefs of the
four identification service agencies to come up with measures to provide
identification services for foreigners and to the Korea Communications Commission
to develop a new system that is non-discriminatory toward foreigners," the
watchdog said in a press release.
According to the information protection law, private firms whose online visitors
surpass 100,000 people a day and government-run agencies are required to check
the identification of their users to protect them from identity theft.
The restriction, however, can be discriminatory toward foreigners who stay in
Korea less than 90 days and are not entitled to a foreign ID number, the watchdog
found.
Website operators should provide alternative identification measures, such as
emails or credit card numbers that are widely used in other countries, the
watchdog said, noting the growing use of Korea's online services abroad.
"We're living in an information age, in which a considerable part of our economic
activity is performed on the Internet. It is discriminatory that some foreign
residents, regardless of their legal status, are blocked from such activity
because of the term of their stay here," said Lee Seok-jun, an official with the
watchdog who focuses on immigrant rights.
The four identification service agencies named by the watchdog are the Korea
Association of Information and Telecommunication, National Information and Credit
Evaluation Inc., Seoul Credit Rating & Information Inc. and Korea Information
Service Inc.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
