ID :
196521
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 12:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/196521
The shortlink copeid
Illegal commerce in cyberspace needs to be sanctioned
SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- The National Tax Service is moving to delve into alleged illegal commercial activities of some powerful bloggers and Internet cafe owners. The tax agency said Thursday it has requested that the country's major Internet portals, including Naver, Daum and SK Communications, provide the personal information of some 1,300 power bloggers on concerns they might be evading taxes. The tax authority also requested the personal information of some 2,500 people who operate Internet cafes in those portals for the same reason.
The latest move by NTS is the first of its kind on bloggers who so far have been excluded from supervision. The tax agency suspects that many of power bloggers are engaging in illegal commercial activities without obtaining business licenses.
The tax authority plans to require the bloggers who have done illegal commercial activities to obtain business licenses, which means the bloggers will have to pay taxes on their commercial activities.
Blogging is the representative form of media in the Internet age. Popular bloggers, often referred to as power bloggers, draw millions of devoted followers. With their "power" stemming from their number of followers, some power bloggers have recently come under fire for abusing their power.
A female blogger who covers home life and cooking tips is suspected of pocketing over 200 million won (US$189,000) by inducing her followers to buy a fruit washing machine in the form of a collective bargain with her review of the product. She allegedly got the money as a reward from the product's company for tacitly advertising the product.
A consumer who purchased the product through the collective bargain experienced product malfunctions and requested a recall, bringing the blogger's deal to light. The blogger unilaterally shut down her blog.
There are not just a few bloggers or cafe operators like her who demand sponsorship from companies or discounts for the products they sell on their sites. Companies, too, benefited from the growth of blogs and social media. The problem is they do not pay taxes and are not subject to sanctions for their commercial activities, often illegal. Consumers who joined collective bargains with the faith that the particular blog or cafe are not profit-seeking may have suffered losses from distorted and intentionally released information on products.
In order to return the blog and cafe to their original functions and purpose and to safeguard consumers' interest, legal sanctioning of the illegal commercial activities should be taken.
Upon the request of the NTS for personal information, the portal operators gave a negative response saying that the provision of personal information to third parties is prohibited by law.
Last week, the Fair Trade Commission announced that local online users, including power bloggers who post product reviews in return for benefits, will be obligated to disclose their contract details from July 14, a move aimed at protecting consumers from unfair online transactions.
The authorities' concern should show firm resolution to crack down on defrauding consumers on the Internet.
The latest move by NTS is the first of its kind on bloggers who so far have been excluded from supervision. The tax agency suspects that many of power bloggers are engaging in illegal commercial activities without obtaining business licenses.
The tax authority plans to require the bloggers who have done illegal commercial activities to obtain business licenses, which means the bloggers will have to pay taxes on their commercial activities.
Blogging is the representative form of media in the Internet age. Popular bloggers, often referred to as power bloggers, draw millions of devoted followers. With their "power" stemming from their number of followers, some power bloggers have recently come under fire for abusing their power.
A female blogger who covers home life and cooking tips is suspected of pocketing over 200 million won (US$189,000) by inducing her followers to buy a fruit washing machine in the form of a collective bargain with her review of the product. She allegedly got the money as a reward from the product's company for tacitly advertising the product.
A consumer who purchased the product through the collective bargain experienced product malfunctions and requested a recall, bringing the blogger's deal to light. The blogger unilaterally shut down her blog.
There are not just a few bloggers or cafe operators like her who demand sponsorship from companies or discounts for the products they sell on their sites. Companies, too, benefited from the growth of blogs and social media. The problem is they do not pay taxes and are not subject to sanctions for their commercial activities, often illegal. Consumers who joined collective bargains with the faith that the particular blog or cafe are not profit-seeking may have suffered losses from distorted and intentionally released information on products.
In order to return the blog and cafe to their original functions and purpose and to safeguard consumers' interest, legal sanctioning of the illegal commercial activities should be taken.
Upon the request of the NTS for personal information, the portal operators gave a negative response saying that the provision of personal information to third parties is prohibited by law.
Last week, the Fair Trade Commission announced that local online users, including power bloggers who post product reviews in return for benefits, will be obligated to disclose their contract details from July 14, a move aimed at protecting consumers from unfair online transactions.
The authorities' concern should show firm resolution to crack down on defrauding consumers on the Internet.
