<b>Crackdown on Cyber Crimes Begins</b>

Crackdown on Cyber Crimes Begins

By Kim Rahn Staff Reporter   People committing illegal acts online, including defaming someone or campaigning before the designated campaign period begins, will be subject to punishment, police said Monday. The move comes after many celebrities claimed to have suffered psychological damage after defamatory comments were posted online. Political user-created content (UCC) is also in the police’s crosshairs. The police will conduct the crackdown during the next three months, with more than 700 cybercrime police officers taking part. Operators of Web sites that host illegal content will be punished. Police are looking to cut down on malicious comments, insulting or abusive language, illegal political campaigning, fraud, porn and gambling sites, and spam. ``Unlike previous crackdowns, which focused on specific types of crimes, this crackdown will be a dragnet that targets every kind of cyber offense,’’ an official at the National Police Agency said. ``People used to think cybercrime was high-tech crime that a small number of technicians commit, such as hacking and spreading viruses. However, today we see incidences of the Internet being involved all types of crime, including murder, robbery, fraud, forgery and defamation,’’ the official said. Among the 70,545 cybercrimes committed last year, fraud accounted for 37.8 percent, followed by hacking, 22.7 percent; libel, 13.4 percent; and illegal Web site operation, 10.4 percent. The number of those charged with online libel has jumped in recent years with 1,850 in 2004, 3,509 in 2005 and 3,953 last year. In January, pop singer Yuni killed herself after suffering from depression, and her agency claims she was hurt by malicious also posted c comments posted on her blog and other Web sites. Such comments continued after her death. Some Internet users have comments making fun of the late female comedian Kim Hyung-eun. Actress Kim Tae-hee, pop singer Rain and transgender entertainer Harisu filed suits against Internet users who defamed them on the Internet.