On September 25, 2023, the Ministry of Science and ICT (the Ministry) announced that, on the same date, it had reported the Digital Bill of Rights at the Cabinet meeting chaired by President Yoon Suk Yeol. In particular, the Digital Bill of Rights is a charter codifying standards and principles outlining the basic direction for universal digital order for guiding the international community. The Ministry outlined that the Digital Bill of Rights consists of a preamble laying out the background and objectives of the document, and the main text is formed by a total of six chapters, which contain 28 articles.
Notably, the Ministry noted that the Digital Bill of Rights reflects globally shared values while incorporating experiences surrounding digital innovation specific to Korea and that it does not only deal with artificial intelligence (AI), but encompasses a broad spectrum of digital issues, such as literacy. Furthermore, it goes beyond ethical and normative discussions to emphasize the role of digital innovation by stipulating distinguished principles and rights, for example, the promotion of the well-being of humankind through international solidarity and cooperation.
Lastly, the Ministry explained that the government plans to use the Digital Bill of Rights as a standard to address challenges in the era of digitalization and to revise specific existing laws and regulations, for instance, by supporting the drafting of new legislation in the field of AI.
