South Korea moves to curb social media algorithms for children

South Korean lawmakers are seeking legal means to limit exposure of “algorithm-driven” content to children as concerns over the influence digital content have on minors grow.



In March, two lawmakers,from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and and liberal Rebuilding Korea Party, floated Bills to restrict the personalised recommendation functions powered by artificial intelligence algorithms on social media for minors.



The Bills are designed to grant the media watchdog Korea Media and Communications Commission the authority to impose a set of obligations on social media platform operators, by providing a legal definition of social network service providers, which does not yet exist in South Korean law.



The revision would penalise social media platforms if they fail to verify a user’s age and require them to restrict algorithm-selected content without parental discretion for users aged under 19.