Bill to ban recording of phone conversations.

If this bill is passed then you will not be able to record abusive phone conversations from your employer or co-teacher.
Thoughts?


https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/08/251_335006.html


Internet users say bill will protect only foul-mouthed politicians, abusive business tycoons

By Lee Hae-rin

A proposed bill designed to ban recording of phone conversations without the other party's consent has ignited debates on privacy and the usefulness of Samsung smartphones.

The bill would protect people from having their words used against themselves, and prevent phone recordings from being used as evidence in legal cases. As it is proposed by a politician who was once shamed over a profanity-laden phone recording, many question the motives behind the bill and whom it will protect.

If the bill gets the nod from lawmakers, many say the winners will be foul-mouthed politicians and abusive business tycoons, whereas those who seek justice in legal disputes will bear the brunt of the possible legislation as they will no longer be allowed to use recorded phone calls as evidence.

The proposed bill may also affect Samsung Galaxy smartphone sales, as the recording function is one of their features that appeals to local smartphone users.

According to the National Assembly website, Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) proposed a revision bill of the Protection of Communications Secret Act on Aug. 18. Ten other PPP lawmakers cosigned the bill.

The revised bill prohibits a person engaged in a phone conversation from recording the conversation without the other party's consent. Those who violate it will be subject to a maximum 10-year prison term, along with a five-year suspension of some qualifications.

Under the current law, people are allowed to record their own conversations, but third parties are not allowed to record conversations between others.

"The current law is against privacy, freedom of communication, as well as human dignity and the right to pursue happiness, which is guaranteed by the Constitution," Yoon said while proposing the bill.

"Phone recordings may be a measure that can protect possible victims as it can be used as evidence to support their claims, but it is often abused to blackmail others."

The revision bill has triggered a debate because phone recordings have played a role in taking down several problematic business executives or chaebol owner family members after their foul-mouthed or abusive behavior was disclosed.

Disclosure of secretly recorded phone conversations became an issue during the March 9 presidential election, after private conversations between Kim Keon-hee, the wife of then PPP presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, and a controversial YouTuber were aired on MBC's investigative program in January.

Kim, now the first lady, was then under fire due to her critical and controversial views of the #MeToo movement.

If the revision bill is passed, those who record their phone calls without the consent of the other person and those who disclose the recordings will face punishment.

It would put an end to the use of recorded phone calls as evidence to protect victims in legal battles.

"Recorded phone calls by a participant in the conversation are often used as evidence to resolve legal conflicts," Seo Hye-jin, an attorney at The Lighthouse Law Office, told The Korea Times, Wednesday.

"If the revised bill gets the nod from lawmakers, law enforcement agencies will no longer use recordings as evidence and those who have been falsely accused of crimes will lose a vital way to prove their innocence."

Under the current law, people are allowed to record their own conversations, but third parties are not allowed to record conversations between others.

In Canada, the law when i was a newspaper reporter was you can record any phone call you RECEIVE but not any phone call you MAKE (unless express permission is given by the other party).

I don't know how important this is in today's TEXT-heavy communication milieux.

Did you ever record a phone conversation? What did you do with the information?

Did you ever record a phone conversation? What did you do with the information?

No, but I often see advice given here that when you receive abusive or unacceptable calls from your employer or co-teacher you should record it. If this bill is passed that option is going to be removed and you have no way of proving it in a dispute resolution process.

Did you ever record a phone conversation? What did you do with the information?

It's illegal to do so without the explicit consent of the both parties in my part of the world. The same goes for any type of digital recording like Zoom. I'm very comfortable with this situation.

That question was for Van Islander. I'm interested in what happened during his time as a news reporter. 

The proposed bill seems inconsistent with the country being a one-party consent state.

If passed, it would mean that you could legally record any conversation without the other party's consent, except for the case of having made a phone call.

IMO, if they want to make the country be two-party consent, then they should change the laws to do that instead of something specific for phone calls.

The proposed bill may also affect Samsung Galaxy smartphone sales, as the recording function is one of their features that appeals to local smartphone users.

that sinks the bill right there lol

It's funny how the person introducing the bill is someone who got in trouble for shit he said not all that long ago.

Zero shame lmao

Who is 'Bill' and why does he have so much authority anyway?