 ▲ 용산 대통령실 청사 ©뉴시스 |
대통령실이 26일 야당·시민단체 등의 정보통신망법 개정안 거부권(재의요구권) 행사 촉구에 대해 사실상 거부 의사를 밝혔다.
강유정 대변인은 이날 오후 청와대 춘추관 브리핑에서 거부권 행사 여부 관련 입장을 묻는 질의에 "대통령실은 언제나 입법 과정에서 국회 논의를 존중하며 진행되는 논의를 지켜본다"며 이같이 전했다.
그러면서 "입법 과정이 국회서 진행됐다면 그 자체를 존중한다"며 더불어민주당 주도로 통과된 정보통신망법 개정안에 대한 수용 입장을 밝혔다.
국민의힘은 정보통신망법 개정안을 '언론 입틀막법'이라며 강력 비판하면서 진보당과 함께 거부권 행사를 촉구 중인 가운데 참여연대 등 진보 시민·사회단체들 역시 같은 입장을 표하고 있다.
허위조작정보 근절법으로 불리는 정보통신망법 개정안은 정보통신망을 통해 확산되는 불법·허위정보로부터 피해자 보호를 목적으로 한다.
고의로 허위·조작 정보를 유포해 타인에 손해 입힌 가해자에 대해 인정된 손해액의 최대 5배까지 배액배상 책임을 지우는 내용이 핵심이다.
불법·허위조작정보로 인정돼 형사유죄·손해배상·정정보도판결이 확정된 것을 정보통신망에 반복 유통한 경우 방송미디어통신위원회가 최대 10억 원 범위 내에서 과징금을 부과할 수 있도록 했다.
또 규모가 큰 플랫폼 사업자에겐 자율규제 가이드 라인 준수·불법·허위 정보 삭제·투명성 보고서 제출 등 법적 의무를 부과했다.
다만 정당한 비판·감시 활동 방해를 위한 이른바 '입막음 소송(봉쇄 소송)'을 막기 위해 소송 각하를 위한 중간 판결을 요청할 수 있도록 했다.
강 대변인은 현 정부 들어 고공 행진 중인 시중 물가 지속세 관련해선 "오늘 아침 현안 점검 회의·티 타임에서 물가 관련 우려스런 점들을 살피란 지시가 있었다"며 "대통령실 참모들이 당국과 함께 물가를 점검하지 않을까 생각한다"고 전했다.
영문 기사의 [전문]입니다. '구글번역'은 이해도 높이기를 위해 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다.<*The following is [the full text] of the English article translated by 'Google Translate'. 'Google Translate' is working hard to improve understanding. It is assumed that there may be errors in the English translation.
The Blue House dismissed the opposition party's request for a veto over the proposed amendments to the Information and Communications Network Act, stating, "We will respect the National Assembly's legislative process."
Kang Yoo-jung: "I will always respect the National Assembly's deliberations during the legislative process and observe the ongoing discussions. If the legislative process took place in the National Assembly, I will respect that." The People Power Party, the Progressive Party, and People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy are effectively rejecting the bill.
-kihong Kim reporter
The Office of the President effectively rejected calls from opposition parties and civic groups to exercise their veto (request reconsideration) on the amendments to the Information and Communications Network Act on the 26th.
At a briefing at the Chunchugwan building of the Blue House that afternoon, Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung responded to a question about the veto, stating, "The Office of the President always respects the National Assembly's deliberations during the legislative process and monitors the ongoing discussions."
He added, "If the legislative process took place in the National Assembly, we respect that process itself," indicating his acceptance of the amendments to the Information and Communications Network Act, which were passed under the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea.
The People Power Party strongly criticized the amendments to the Information and Communications Network Act, calling them "media silencing laws," and joined the Progressive Party in urging a veto. Progressive civic and social groups, including the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, have also expressed similar sentiments.
The amendments to the Information and Communications Network Act, also known as the Act on Eradicating Disinformation, are intended to protect victims from illegal and false information spread through information and communications networks.
The core provision is that perpetrators who intentionally spread false or manipulated information and cause harm to others will be liable for damages of up to five times the amount of the damages.
The bill authorizes the Korea Communications Commission to impose fines of up to 1 billion won for repeatedly distributing illegal or manipulated information, which has resulted in a final criminal conviction, damages, or a correction.
Furthermore, large platform operators are legally obligated to comply with self-regulatory guidelines, delete illegal or misleading information, and submit transparency reports.
However, to prevent so-called "hush-shutting lawsuits" aimed at obstructing legitimate criticism and surveillance activities, the bill allows for requests for interim rulings to dismiss lawsuits.
Spokesperson Kang said regarding the continued high prices in the market since the current administration took office, "This morning, at the current affairs review meeting and tea time, there was an instruction to look into concerns about prices," and "I think the presidential staff will be checking prices together with the authorities."
