Open Net has issued a joint statement strongly urging the South Korean government to scrap its plan to mandate facial recognition for mobile phone activation with 4 Civil society organizations. We argue that facial data is highly sensitive biometric information that cannot be changed if leaked, making its collection inherently risky. By making this technology a requirement for accessing essential communication services, the government is effectively forcing citizens to provide biometric data without genuine “free consent,” which constitutes a clear violation of the Personal Information Protection Act and international human rights standards.
We also challenge the government’s claim that this measure is necessary to prevent “daepo-phones” (illegal burner phones) and voice phishing. South Korea already has a robust real-name registration system. Compared to China—which implemented a similar mandate in 2019 but eventually abandoned it due to massive data leaks and its failure to curb fraud—the policy is an ineffective and excessive measure for its stated goals.
Furthermore, the government shifts the burden of security onto citizens rather than addressing the root causes of data-related crimes. Voice phishing is fueled by the widespread leakage of resident registration numbers caused by corporate and government negligence. Instead of mandating more intrusive surveillance, we demand that the government focus on strengthening corporate liability for data breaches and abolishing the current identity verification system that relies on centralizing citizens’ personal data.
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