South Korea’s Digital Bill of Right

August 2023

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Strategies and Action Plans

The Digital Bill of Rights is designed to establish a new digital order that safeguards universal values such as freedom, equality, and human dignity in the digital age. Below is a detailed explanation of its key components:

Preamble

The preamble emphasizes the transformative impact of digital technology on society and highlights the need for new norms to protect fundamental human values. It underscores the commitment to ensuring universal access to digital benefits and encourages global collaboration to achieve a shared digital prosperity.

Chapter 1: Fundamental Principles

  1. Guarantee of Freedom and Rights (Article 1):
    • Respect for human dignity and values in the digital environment.
    • Ensures freedom and rights for all individuals.
  2. Fair Access and Equal Opportunities (Article 2):
    • Promotes fair competition and innovation.
    • Ensures even distribution of digital innovation benefits.
  3. Security and Trust Assurance (Article 3):
    • Ensures reliability and safety of digital technology and services.
    • Establishes measures to handle digital risks.
  4. Fostering of Digital Innovation (Article 4):
    • Encourages continuous digital advancement.
    • Supports autonomous and creative endeavors.
  5. Advancement of Human Well-being (Article 5):
    • Promotes international collaboration for human well-being through digital technology.
    • Aims to bridge the digital divide among nations.

Chapter 2: Guarantee of Freedom and Rights in the Digital Environment

  1. Guarantee of Digital Access (Article 6):
    • Ensures stable and non-discriminatory access to digital services.
  2. Freedom of Digital Expression (Article 7):
    • Protects the right to express views freely while being responsible for respecting others’ rights.
  3. Respect for Digital Diversity (Article 8):
    • Protects against discrimination and bias from digital technology.
    • Respects social and cultural diversity.
  4. Access and Control of Personal Information (Article 9):
    • Allows individuals to control their personal data, including access, correction, deletion, and transfer.
  5. Demand for Non-Digital Alternatives (Article 10):
    • Grants the right to request non-digital alternatives in the public domain.
  6. Guarantee of Digital Work and Rest (Article 11):
    • Ensures safe and healthy working conditions in digital environments.
    • Guarantees rest away from digital connections.

Chapter 3: Fair Access and Equal Opportunities to Digital

  1. Promotion of Fair Competition (Article 12):
    • Measures to address monopolies and unfair practices in the digital economy.
  2. Protection of Digital Assets (Article 13):
    • Protects digital assets from personal investment and effort.
    • Ensures fair contracts for digital asset transactions.
  3. Enhancement of Digital Literacy (Article 14):
    • Bridges the digital divide by promoting digital literacy and education.
  4. Guarantee of Data Access (Article 15):
    • Promotes data openness and fair access to public data.
  5. Enhancement of Social Safety Nets (Article 16):
    • Addresses economic and social inequalities due to digitalization.
    • Ensures community benefits from digital innovation.

Chapter 4: Safe and Reliable Digital Society

  1. Ethical Development and Use of Digital Technology (Article 17):
    • Promotes responsible and ethical digital technology development and use.
  2. Response to Digital Risks (Article 18):
    • Prevents and manages digital risks with transparent and understandable information.
  3. Protection of Digital Privacy (Article 19):
    • Protects individuals from unlawful identification and tracking.
  4. Fostering of Sound Digital Environment (Article 20):
    • Prevents false information and harmful content.
    • Establishes measures to protect victims of digital crimes.
  5. Protection of Children and Youths (Article 21):
    • Ensures safe digital environments for children and youths.
    • Provides special protection from digital crimes.

Chapter 5: Promotion of Digital Innovation Based on Autonomy and Creativity

  1. Freedom of Digital Innovation Activities (Article 22):
    • Guarantees freedom to engage in digital innovation activities.
  2. Improvement of Digital Regulation (Article 23):
    • Establishes a regulatory framework respecting private autonomy.
    • Adjusts regulations to match technological advancements.
  3. Support for Digital Innovation (Article 24):
    • Provides support for continuous digital innovation through collaboration between the private sector and government.
  4. Conflict Resolution in Digital Transition (Article 25):
    • Manages societal conflicts during digital transition.
    • Facilitates dialogue among stakeholders for social consensus.

Chapter 6: Advancement of Human Well-being

  1. Sustainable Digital Society (Article 26):
    • Collaborates internationally to minimize digital technology’s negative environmental impacts.
    • Enhances global well-being through digital technology.
  2. Global Reduction of Digital Divide (Article 27):
    • Cooperates internationally to bridge the digital divide and promote digital development cooperation.
  3. Cooperation for Global Digital Norms (Article 28):
    • Establishes universal digital norms through international cooperation.
    • Builds global governance mechanisms to address digital risks.