요 약
○ 최근의 미국산 쇠고기 문제로 인해 인터넷 포털 등을 통하여 형성된 인
터넷 여론 및 오프라인에서의 촛불시위로의 확산은 인터넷 실명제에 대
한 논의를 더욱 가열하고 있음
인터넷이라는
사이버 공간의 익명성을 전제로 이용자들은 자신의 의견을 자유
롭게 표현하며, 기존의 매체를 통해 쟁점화 된 사안을 토론을 통해 확대하거나
새로운 쟁점을 만들어 내기도 함
그러나
익명성을 전제로 한 인터넷 게시판 이용은 때로는 개인정보 침해, 프라
이버시 침해, 허위사실 유포, 명예 훼손 등의 사이버 역기능을 초래하여 한 개
인이나 집단에 피해를 입히기도 함
○ 우리나라는 현재 사이버 공간에서의 게시판 이용의 문제점을 해결하기
위하여 ｢정보통신망 이용촉진 및 정보보호 등에 관한 법률｣ 제44조의5에
근거하여 ‘인터넷 제한적 본인확인제’라는 제도를 시행하고 있음
‘
본인확인제’란 인터넷 이용자가 게시판에 정보를 게재할 경우 실명이 공개되
는 대신 해당 게시판 관리ㆍ운영자가 이용자 본인 여부를 확인하는 제도임
한편
OECD 회원국을 비롯한 주요국에서는 ‘인터넷 실명제’와 같은 포괄적인 의
미의 게시판 이용 규제를 하지 않고 있으며 익명표현의 자유를 중요하게 여김
○ 인터넷 실명제와 관련해서는 정부, 전문가, 인터넷 사업자, 네티즌의 찬
반 의견이 대립되어 있는 상태임
사이버
폭력이 인터넷의 익명성에 기반하고 있기 때문에 전면적인 인터넷 실
명제를 통해 대응하여야 한다는 찬성의 의견이 있는 반면에 실명제가 표현의
자유를 위축시키고 민주주의에 역행한다는 의견도 있음
○ 모든 인터넷 게시물에 실명을 입력하는 포괄적인 인터넷 실명제는 표현
의 자유 침해라는 견해가 전반적으로 설득력이 있는 상황이며 ‘인터넷
본인확인제’ 확대 실시에는 적용범위와 방식, 규제의 강도에 관한 보다
심층적인 논의가 있어야 할 것임
법이나
제도를 통해 규제하는 것보다는 건전한 사이버 문화 조성과 네티즌들
의 미디어 교육 등을 통해 자율과 책임을 기반으로 사이버 공간의 개방성과
익명성을 지켜나갈 수 있는 분위기를 조성할 필요가 있다고 생각됨
목 차
1. 문제제기 ··········································································································· 1
1) 인터넷 매체의 특성 ···················································································· 1
2) 인터넷 여론의 특성 ···················································································· 2
2. 인터넷 실명제 관련 주요 쟁점 ··································································· 4
1) 인터넷 실명제 개념에 대한 논의 ···························································· 4
2) 표현의 자유 침해 vs. 개인의 인격권 보호 ··········································· 5
3) 익명성 침해 vs. 사이버역기능 방지 ······················································· 6
3. 우리나라의 인터넷 실명제 실시 현황 ······················································· 8
1) 개념 및 도입 현황 ······················································································ 8
2) 관련 법령 ···································································································· 10
3) 본인확인제 적용 대상 ·············································································· 10
4. 주요국의 인터넷 실명제 실시 현황 ························································· 12
1) 주요국의 인터넷 게시판 이용 현황 ······················································ 12
2) 주요국의 인터넷 역기능에 관한 정책 ·················································· 12
5. 인터넷 실명제 대안 ··················································································· 14
<참고문헌> ········································································································· 16
2008-08-27
