SEOUL, South Korea: South Korea began enforcing a new law this week that imposes heavy fines and penalties on news organizations and social media influencers who spread false information. Journalist groups warned that this law could limit free speech and lead to censorship.

Journalists and rights groups say the law is unclear about which kinds of information are banned and does not adequately protect the media. They worry it could stop reporters from criticizing government leaders, politicians, and big companies.

The law lets courts order news outlets and large social media channels, including YouTube creators, to pay up to five times the actual damages if they share false or manipulated information to harm others or to make money.

It also says that if someone shares false or manipulated content more than twice after a court has confirmed it is untrue, they can be fined up to 1 billion won (about $656,000) by the media regulator. Big internet platforms with more than 1 million daily users must take action, such as removing content or suspending accounts, when false information is reported.

The law was supported by President Lee Jae Myung's Democratic Party and passed in December, even though conservative lawmakers boycotted the vote. Supporters say the law is needed to fight fake news, which they believe is increasing division and hate and threatening democracy.

However, the Journalists Association of Korea warned that the risk of large fines and legal cases could make media organizations more cautious and less willing to report freely.

The group said that even if the law serves a good purpose, it could weaken democracy by discouraging both journalists and ordinary people from criticizing those in power.

The Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club also raised concerns about how the law could affect media work and the free flow of information.

The push for the law came after concerns about online discussions in South Korea, especially following a 2024 crisis in which then-President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly declared martial law. He was later impeached, removed from office, and sentenced to life in prison for rebellion, though he has appealed the decision.

Yoon has also spread unproven claims of election fraud on YouTube to defend his actions and gain support. Critics say this increased political division and made compromise more difficult.

The Korea Media and Communications Commission said the law will not lead to government censorship. It explained that private platform operators, not the government, will decide whether content is false, and that reporting in the public interest will not face penalties.

Major South Korean internet companies such as Naver and Kakao are updating their systems to comply with the new rules. However, it remains unclear how foreign platforms like YouTube will comply with the law, and Google has not yet commented.

After the law was passed, U.S. official Sarah B. Rogers criticized it, saying it could harm technology cooperation and that it is better to give victims legal options rather than impose strict controls on opinions.