Young Koreans protest the forced government installment of an app that violates their privacy

A new smartphone app is raising controversy over questions and issues of personal safety and liberties.�

The South Korean government has mandated the installation of an app in new smartphones sold to South Koreans who are under 19 years of age. Called "Smart Sheriff," this app will allow parents to monitor and regulate their children's web activity. For example, parents will be notified by the usage of certain trigger words in web searches, such as "pregnancy," "suicide," and "bullying." Parents are also able to protect their children with the ability to block access to harmful and obscene websites. To ensure the effectiveness of this app, the South Korean government has mandated the installation of this app in the smartphones of South Koreans under 19 years of age; failure to install the app will result in the smartphone simply not working.�

While this app was created as a safety measure for South Korean children, there is already backlash at the authoritarian elements of this app. Young South Koreans are especially furious at the loss of their personal freedoms and privacy on cyberspace. "I think that the government's method of watching certain messages and web browsers is a bit excessive," one student stated.�Other opponents of the app agree, arguing that young smartphone users need their personal freedom and privacy to safely navigate the Internet themselves. ��

What do you think of this app? Should personal freedoms be sacrificed for safety?�

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