SEOUL (AFP) — South Korea on Tuesday began enforcing a revised law targeting false information posted online, imposing tougher penalties on repeat offenders despite concerns from critics that it could undermine free speech.

The amendment to the Information and Communications Network Act requires major online platforms to establish systems for reporting false or manipulated content as the country steps up efforts to combat digital misinformation.

South Korea previously relied on defamation laws and civil damage claims to address false information without a legal framework specifically targeting so-called fake news.

Under the revised law, users who intentionally spread illegal false or manipulated information may be ordered to pay up to five times the actual damages. Repeat offenders whose content has been ruled illegal by courts can also face fines of up to 1 billion won ($655,000).

Major platforms, including Naver, Kakao, Google and Meta, must introduce reporting systems for alleged false or manipulated content and publish transparency reports every six months detailing complaints received and actions taken.

The law comes after a surge in online misinformation following South Korea’s failed 2024 martial law attempt, including unsubstantiated claims of Chinese interference in the country’s electoral system.

In another high-profile case, a right-wing YouTuber was indicted for allegedly using AI-generated audio to falsely claim that actor Kim Soo-hyun dated a late actress while she was a minor. The allegations escalated into a major scandal, prompting Kim to suspend public appearances while a major project was indefinitely postponed.