Police book three, probe dozens more over election fake news allegations

Police said they booked three people over false ballot shortage rumors and are investigating 67 online accounts tied to election misinformation, alongside separate fake news cases involving North Korea oil claims and Gwangju.

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Protesters claim election fraud of the June 3 local elections during a rally in southern Seoul on July 5.
Protesters claim election fraud of the June 3 local elections during a rally in southern Seoul on July 5.

Three individuals have been booked on suspicion of spreading fake news regarding ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections, the police said Monday, adding the number may increase with a total of 67 online accounts currently under investigation for disseminating such news.

One of the three suspects booked has also been referred to the prosecution, according to the National Police Agency.

In a separate case, the police have booked 17 suspects for allegedly spreading false rumors that 900,000 tons of crude oil were bound for North Korea amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran war, with 11 of them referred to the prosecution, the police said in a press notice.

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An additional nine people are facing investigation for spreading false information regarding the 1980 Gwangju democratization movement, with three of them referred to the prosecution.

"We will expedite the investigations [regarding fake news] through a dedicated task force," the police said.


Yonhap

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