The Rise of Cyber Nationalism in East AsiaResearch15In the 1990s, the Internet opened up a new realm of communi-cation, often referred to as “cyberspace,” enabling seamless cross-border connections and instant access to information. However, cyberspace can also become a harmful lawless zone, capable of causing harm, whether intentionally or unintentionally. “When I entered university in 1999, the Internet was just starting to rapidly expand in South Korea,” Rhee recalled. As a student majoring in politics, Rhee was particularly intrigued by the in-tersection of international relations and information technology. “At the time, there was a sense of optimism that information tech-nology would weaken national boundaries and reduce interna-tional conflicts, paving the way for a more interdependent and peaceful world. However, as the Internet became more wide-spread, new challenges emerged. When I started my research in the 2000s, cyberspace was flooded with distorted narratives driven by extreme nationalism and hostile rhetoric targeting people from other countries.” A so-called “Internet right wing” emerged in Japan, while nu-merous anti-Japanese websites surfaced in South Korea. Some of these online extremists eventually took their views offline, orga-nizing in-person demonstrations that fueled a surge in extreme hate speech in the early 2010s. This phenomenon, widely reported across Japan, Korea, and China, further strained diplomatic rela-tions among them. When the media reported on territorial disputes over the Dokdo/Takeshima, or the issue of comfort women, anonymous Internet users in Japan, Korea and China frequently engaged in heated on-line clashes, exchanging slanderous remarks. Additionally, cyber-attacks, seemingly driven by nationalist sentiment, targeted web-sites in other countries, including government agencies, such as Japan’s Ministry of Justice. To analyze this trend, Rhee reviewed the rhetoric posted on vari-ous Japanese, Chinese, and Korean online forums. “I found that it was only a small percentage of users who were posting extreme rhetoric,” she says. “However, the provocative na-ture of the content drew the attention of ordinary users, triggering excessive reactions that spread rapidly.”New Issues Arising from Video Editing Technology and Generative AISince the mid-2010s, cyber-attacks driven by nationalism have significantly decreased. “This is mostly due to advancements in technology and legal re-forms,” Rhee explains. “In the past, it was nearly impossible to prevent attacks from anonymous groups targeting websites in other countries. However, recent progress in cybersecurity has made such defenses possible. Further, the establishment of stricter laws and an increase in lawsuits have acted as strong deterrents. In other words, the decline in cyber-attacks is not a result of im-proved Internet literacy among users.“Technological progress is outpacing the cultivation of ethical standards, “Rhee continues. “Even when preventative technolo-gies are introduced, people find new loopholes and exploit ad-vancements to launch attacks in different ways.”Although nationalist attacks have subsided, new issues have sur-faced, particularly those related to gender. While nationalist at-tacks have diminished, new challenges have emerged, particu-larly concerning gender issues. Rhee is now directing her research
元のページ ../index.html#15