The Church joined opposition parties and rights groups today in condemning government plans to monitor social networks and mobile phone applications, calling the move authoritarian and unnecessary.

The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) yesterday announced the creation of a “new media inspection team” that, from December 7, will begin monitoring “harmful information” on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Those deemed posting harmful material will immediately be prohibited from logging on.

The move sparked outrage from many quarters today.

Church communication experts said monitoring is a completely “authoritarian” concept and pointed to the fact that three members of the nine-man commission walked out in protest before the vote.

The KCSC was established in 2008 as a “civil independent agency,” but its commissioners are appointed by the president.

Father Bartholomew Choi Gi-hong, director of culture and communications in Chunchon diocese said the key to social media is primarily listening.

This “authoritarian and threatening measure” shows the government does not want to listen to valid public opinion.

The Jesuit provincial assistant for communication Father Albert Cho In-young called the decision an “infantile idea” demonstrating the government doesn’t understand social network culture and is seeking to prevent opposing opinions circulating in the social media.

He also expressed concern monitoring would affect the Church’s mission to promote the social justice.

Opposition lawmaker Sohn Hak-kyu, from the Democratic Party demanded the commission reconsider its decision, saying “it is an anachronism to inspect the social networks.”

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