South Korea Korea Internet Self-Governance Organisation (KISO) Code of Ethics

Advertising and sponsored content must be clearly distinguishable from editorial and user content. Disclosure must be prominent and use consistent labelling.

• Disclosure labelling guide
• Sample ad placements with labels
• Influencer disclosure requirements
• Compliance monitoring reports
• Penalty schedule for non disclosure

• Labels too small or low contrast
• Influencer disclosure not enforced
• Inconsistent label wording across surfaces

Members must apply proportionate measures to reduce the spread of demonstrably false information that may cause serious public harm, while preserving legitimate expression.

• Misinformation policy
• Fact checker partnerships
• Decision logs and rationale
• Reduction in distribution metrics
• User appeals for misinformation labels

• No fact checker integration
• Removal applied where label and downrank would suffice
• Appeals not tracked

Members must apply consistent handling rules to anonymous and pseudonymous posts, including provisions for identifying users only in narrow lawful circumstances such as criminal investigation or court order.

• Policy on identity protection
• Law enforcement request handling procedure
• Annual transparency report
• Counsel review log of disclosure requests
• Training on lawful access scope

• Disclosure without court order recorded
• No transparency report
• Identity protection waived for influential users

Categories including child sexual abuse material, illegal drug content, gambling promotion, and violent extremism must be removed promptly upon discovery or notice and reported to authorities where the law requires.

• Sensitive content removal SLA
• Hash matching tool deployment evidence
• Reports filed with Korean Communications Standards Commission
• Reports filed with police where required
• Quarterly sensitive content metrics

• SLA exceeded for late discovery during weekends
• No use of recognized hash sharing programs
• Reports to authorities not retained

Members must apply safeguards to content promoting or detailing self harm or suicide, including content warnings, helpline references, and rapid response routines.

• Content classifier configuration
• Helpline insertion examples
• Crisis routing procedure
• Coordination logs with Mental Health Welfare Center
• Moderator support program

• No automated detection for at risk content
• Helpline numbers stale
• No support for moderators handling distressing content

Per South Korea Korea Internet Self-Governance Organisation (KISO) Code of Ethics: Content Moderation Policy and Process. Source-grounded summary control covering authoritative framework structure + key obligations. See manifest + log for detailed mapping.

• Authoritative source-grounded evidence for KISOSELF-1

• see authoritative source for detailed gap analysis

During declared election periods, members must apply additional review to political content, prevent unlawful electioneering, and respond to requests from the National Election Commission within statutory timelines.

• Election period operations plan
• NEC request log with timestamps
• Reviewer training records
• Coordination log with KISO Policy Committee
• Post election after action report

• Plan reused from prior cycle without update
• NEC requests handled outside SLA
• No retrospective review of decisions

Synthetic or manipulated media depicting real individuals must be labeled where feasible and removed when intended to deceive in commerce, politics, or sexual content without consent.

• Synthetic media policy
• Detection model evaluation results
• Labeling implementation evidence
• Removal logs for non consensual intimate imagery
• User reporting channel for manipulated media

• No labeling for AI generated images
• Detection limited to face swap only
• Removal SLA undefined for synthetic intimate imagery

Members may refer difficult decisions to the KISO Policy Committee for advisory opinions and must consider the outcomes when finalizing decisions. Policy Committee precedents must be reflected in internal guidance.

• Referral request logs
• Policy Committee decisions repository
• Internal guidance updates linked to decisions
• Annual training on precedents
• Disagreement logs with rationale

• Decisions not propagated to moderator guidance
• Repeat referrals on settled questions
• Disagreements unrecorded

Members must publish a transparency report covering volumes of takedown requests, government requests, sensitive content removals, and outcomes, at least annually.

• Annual transparency report
• Underlying data extract
• Independent reviewer attestation where used
• Methodology document
• Comparable historical reports

• Categories changed without continuity notes
• Data extract not available on request
• Methodology omits sensitive content

Users affected by content decisions must have an internal appeal route and, where unresolved, the ability to seek external review by KISO. Members must cooperate with external review proceedings.

• Internal appeal procedure
• User notice describing external review
• KISO referral logs
• Outcome compliance evidence
• Annual appeal volume report

• Appeal only available for paid users
• No notification of external review option
• Outcomes not implemented

Content that incites hatred or discrimination on the basis of protected attributes must be removed or restricted in line with the Code and applicable law, with documented criteria.

• Hate speech policy
• Decision examples with reasoning
• Moderator guidelines
• Annual policy review minutes
• User reporting metrics

• Policy not localized for Korean context
• Reasoning inconsistent across reviewers
• Metrics not segmented by category

Members must provide tools for users to block harassers, report patterns of abuse, and request escalated review of repeat offender accounts, with action recorded.

• Block and mute feature documentation
• Pattern detection rules
• Account action ladder
• Repeat offender register
• User survey on safety perception

• Block features hidden in settings
• No cross signal detection of harassment patterns
• Repeat offender register not pruned

Establish self-regulatory standards ensuring internet operators enhance users' freedom of expression while increasing user responsibility

• OT asset inventory and network diagram
• ICS specific incident playbook
• Process owner attestation
• Tooling configuration export
• Meeting minutes referencing the control
• Training material referencing the control

• IT and OT response teams not aligned
• ICS forensics tooling not in place
• Evidence is point in time rather than ongoing
• Control owner unclear or vacant
• No metric tracks control effectiveness

Applies to member internet platform companies including Naver, DaumKakao, SK Communications, KT, and Afreeca TV

• Scope statement signed by management
• Stakeholder and interested party register
• OT asset inventory and network diagram
• ICS specific incident playbook
• Process owner attestation
• Tooling configuration export

• Scope boundaries unclear for cloud services
• Stakeholder needs not refreshed annually
• IT and OT response teams not aligned
• ICS forensics tooling not in place
• Evidence is point in time rather than ongoing

Definitions of key terms including internet operator, user, content, and self-regulation

• OT asset inventory and network diagram
• ICS specific incident playbook
• Process owner attestation
• Tooling configuration export
• Meeting minutes referencing the control
• Training material referencing the control

• IT and OT response teams not aligned
• ICS forensics tooling not in place
• Evidence is point in time rather than ongoing
• Control owner unclear or vacant
• No metric tracks control effectiveness

Core principles of freedom of expression, user responsibility, and trustworthy information communication space

• OT asset inventory and network diagram
• ICS specific incident playbook
• Process owner attestation
• Tooling configuration export
• Meeting minutes referencing the control
• Training material referencing the control

• IT and OT response teams not aligned
• ICS forensics tooling not in place
• Evidence is point in time rather than ongoing
• Control owner unclear or vacant
• No metric tracks control effectiveness

Internet operators shall respect and protect users' freedom of expression in online spaces

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• Content moderation policy with appeal pathways
• Moderation decision logs and reviewer training records
• Transparency report on takedowns and reinstatements

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Moderation outcomes not consistently logged with rationale
• Appeal mechanism response times exceed published commitments

Content restrictions shall be applied minimally and only when clearly justified by law or ethical standards

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• Content moderation policy with appeal pathways
• Moderation decision logs and reviewer training records
• Transparency report on takedowns and reinstatements

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Moderation outcomes not consistently logged with rationale
• Appeal mechanism response times exceed published commitments
• Records of processing activities outdated against current systems

Content moderation decisions shall be transparent with clear criteria communicated to users

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• Content moderation policy with appeal pathways
• Moderation decision logs and reviewer training records
• Transparency report on takedowns and reinstatements

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Moderation outcomes not consistently logged with rationale
• Appeal mechanism response times exceed published commitments

Respect for creators' freedom of expression as a foundational principle in content governance

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• Content moderation policy with appeal pathways
• Moderation decision logs and reviewer training records
• Transparency report on takedowns and reinstatements

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Moderation outcomes not consistently logged with rationale
• Appeal mechanism response times exceed published commitments

Standards for identifying and addressing harmful content including hate speech and inappropriate expressions

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• Content moderation policy with appeal pathways
• Moderation decision logs and reviewer training records
• Transparency report on takedowns and reinstatements

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Moderation outcomes not consistently logged with rationale
• Appeal mechanism response times exceed published commitments

Measures to prevent harm caused by hate speech while respecting freedom of expression

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• Content moderation policy with appeal pathways
• Moderation decision logs and reviewer training records
• Transparency report on takedowns and reinstatements

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Moderation outcomes not consistently logged with rationale
• Appeal mechanism response times exceed published commitments

Standards for protecting minors from harmful or inappropriate online content

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• Content moderation policy with appeal pathways
• Moderation decision logs and reviewer training records
• Transparency report on takedowns and reinstatements

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Moderation outcomes not consistently logged with rationale
• Appeal mechanism response times exceed published commitments

Self-regulatory guidelines for search result presentation and search term filtering

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• Content moderation policy with appeal pathways
• Moderation decision logs and reviewer training records
• Transparency report on takedowns and reinstatements

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Moderation outcomes not consistently logged with rationale
• Appeal mechanism response times exceed published commitments

Self-regulation guidelines for webtoons, web novels, and other story-based content platforms

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• Content moderation policy with appeal pathways
• Moderation decision logs and reviewer training records
• Transparency report on takedowns and reinstatements

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Moderation outcomes not consistently logged with rationale
• Appeal mechanism response times exceed published commitments

Internet operators shall protect user personal information and data privacy

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• ISO management system documentation
• External certification reports and surveillance audit findings
• Nonconformity register with closure evidence

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Documentation exists but lacks evidence of periodic refresh

Promoting user responsibility for content they create and share on internet platforms

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• ISO management system documentation
• External certification reports and surveillance audit findings
• Nonconformity register with closure evidence

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Documentation exists but lacks evidence of periodic refresh

Expanding voluntary participation by creators and users in content governance

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• ISO management system documentation
• External certification reports and surveillance audit findings
• Nonconformity register with closure evidence

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Documentation exists but lacks evidence of periodic refresh

Encouraging diversity of viewpoints and promoting social diversity in online discourse

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• ISO management system documentation
• External certification reports and surveillance audit findings
• Nonconformity register with closure evidence

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Documentation exists but lacks evidence of periodic refresh

Committee responsible for developing self-regulatory policies on posts, search terms, and content standards

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• ISO management system documentation
• External certification reports and surveillance audit findings
• Nonconformity register with closure evidence

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Documentation exists but lacks evidence of periodic refresh

Committee that verifies the appropriateness of content handling decisions by member companies

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• ISO management system documentation
• External certification reports and surveillance audit findings
• Nonconformity register with closure evidence

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Documentation exists but lacks evidence of periodic refresh

Board of directors composed of funding member companies approving business plans and strategic direction

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• ISO management system documentation
• External certification reports and surveillance audit findings
• Nonconformity register with closure evidence

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Documentation exists but lacks evidence of periodic refresh

Process for appealing content moderation decisions and resolving disputes between stakeholders

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• Dispute intake log with categorisation and outcomes
• Mediation case files and resolution records
• Court submission and judgement archive

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Dispute categorisation inconsistent across intake channels
• Settlement decisions not archived with full rationale

Ethical guidelines for artificial intelligence and chatbot implementations by member companies

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• AI system inventory with risk classification
• Model evaluation reports including bias and safety testing
• AI ethics committee review records

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• AI inventory missing shadow deployments by business units
• Bias and safety testing not performed at required cadence

Research on policies for new technologies including AI, blockchain, and emerging internet services

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• ISO management system documentation
• External certification reports and surveillance audit findings
• Nonconformity register with closure evidence

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Documentation exists but lacks evidence of periodic refresh

Internet operators fulfilling social responsibilities in user protection and responsible innovation

• Approved governance policy with documented scope and accountabilities
• Board or steering committee minutes evidencing oversight
• Roles and responsibilities matrix (RACI)
• ISO management system documentation
• External certification reports and surveillance audit findings
• Nonconformity register with closure evidence

• Policy document exists but lacks evidence of board approval or refresh cycle
• Accountabilities defined on paper but not reflected in performance objectives
• Documentation exists but lacks evidence of periodic refresh

Online intermediaries that join KISO must formally adopt the Code of Ethics and align internal policies on user generated content, defamation handling, and rights protection with the Code.

• Board resolution adopting the KISO Code
• Internal policy mapping to Code articles
• Public statement of KISO membership
• Signed Code adherence declaration
• Annual confirmation of continued adherence

• Adoption recorded only in operational policy without board sign off
• No public statement of membership
• Policy refresh lags after Code revisions

Member services must balance user freedom of expression against the rights of third parties and the public interest, with documented criteria used when restricting access to information.

• Content policy with public interest test
• Decision logs referencing the test
• Training material for moderators
• Internal escalation guide
• External advisory input where used

• Policy uses general principles without operational criteria
• Public interest test not invoked in case logs
• Moderator training omits rights balancing

Services likely to be accessed by minors must implement age appropriate measures including content filtering, parental information, and restricted feature defaults.

• Age verification implementation report
• Parental controls documentation
• Default safety settings for minor accounts
• Risk assessment for child users
• Compliance with rating advisory bodies

• Reliance on self declaration only
• Adult features available by default
• No periodic verification of declared age

Information classified as harmful for minors must be marked with the appropriate restriction symbol and made inaccessible without verified adult authentication.

• Content rating procedure
• Adult authentication flow evidence
• Restriction symbol placement audit
• Notice of designation by Minor Protection Commission
• Appeal process records

• Restriction symbol missing on derivative content
• Adult authentication bypassable
• Reclassification not tracked

Members must operate an accessible reporting channel for defamation and rights infringement claims, allowing users and third parties to submit takedown requests with required identification and grounds.

• Reporting form and instruction page
• Channel availability on web and mobile
• Required fields validation evidence
• Service level commitment to acknowledge
• Multilingual support where offered

• Form buried more than three clicks from content page
• Identity verification absent or excessive
• No acknowledgement to reporter

Upon receiving a credible rights infringement claim, the member may impose a temporary access restriction of up to 30 days while the claim is investigated. The content owner must be notified and able to object.

• Standard operating procedure for 30 day blockade
• Notification templates to author
• Objection intake records
• Decision deadline tracker
• Restoration logs after objection upheld

• Restriction extended past 30 days without resolution
• Authors not notified or notice in obscure language
• No record of objection outcome

Where the author objects to a restriction and the member cannot confirm rights infringement, content must be restored. Decisions on whether to restore must be recorded with reasoning.

• Counter notice template
• Restoration decision log
• Reasoning documentation per case
• Escalation path to KISO Policy Committee
• Aggregate restoration metrics

• Default to keep down without rebuttal review
• No reasoning written for restoration refusals
• Escalation path undocumented

Personnel handling user content must receive training in the Code, applicable law, and wellbeing support due to exposure to distressing material.

• Onboarding and refresher training records
• Wellbeing program description
• Counsellor access records
• Workload monitoring data
• Anonymous staff feedback summaries

• Outsourced moderators excluded from wellbeing support
• Counsellor access slow to schedule
• No anonymous feedback channel

Per South Korea Korea Internet Self-Governance Organisation (KISO) Code of Ethics: Transparency Reporting and KISO Cooperation. Source-grounded summary control covering authoritative framework structure + key obligations. See manifest + log for detailed mapping.

• Authoritative source-grounded evidence for KISOSELF-3

• see authoritative source for detailed gap analysis

Per South Korea Korea Internet Self-Governance Organisation (KISO) Code of Ethics: User Rights and Appeals. Source-grounded summary control covering authoritative framework structure + key obligations. See manifest + log for detailed mapping.

• Authoritative source-grounded evidence for KISOSELF-2

• see authoritative source for detailed gap analysis