"If I didn't turn this 'thing' off, will all my personal data be stolen?" The truth behind the rumors over KakaoTalk's terms update

Is that true?" and "If I withdraw my consent to use the service now, will that stop my personal data from being collected?" Around February 4, alarming rumors began spreading rapidly through online communities and social networking services (SNS). The claims said that "starting on the 11th, Kakao will collect and use users' activity logs and usage patterns without their consent.
" According to these rumors, if users did not clearly express their refusal within seven days after the updated terms took effect on the 4th, they would be deemed to have given automatic consent. Kakao would then collect personal information such as location data, and the only way to prevent this would be to delete their account and leave the service.As these rumors spread, Kakao moved to contain the fallout. On the 11th, a Kakao representative stated, "The previously announced revision of the terms does not allow us to use users' activity logs and usage patterns in the way that is being claimed," and added, "In any case where consent is required by law, we will always obtain separate, explicit consent from users." The company stressed that the circulating claims are not accurate. The controversy traces back to December last year, when Kakao revised its integrated service terms and individual service terms ahead of launching AI services such as Kanana and the enforcement of the Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence.
The updated terms state that Kakao may provide personalized content recommendations and advertisements, and that if the company offers results generated by artificial intelligence, it will notify and label them in accordance with relevant laws. One particular clause in the revised terms fueled users' anxiety and became the source of the rumors.
It states that if a user does not express their refusal within seven days after the effective date of the revised terms (February 4), they will be deemed to have agreed, and if they do not agree, the service contract may be terminated. Kakao also rejected another claim circulating online, saying, "It is not true that you cannot use KakaoTalk if you do not agree to this data collection.
" The company added, "If you refuse the collection of usage logs and patterns, you will only be unable to use AI services that rely on that data, such as Kanana. " It has also been confirmed that following the online "advice" to turn off consent for location data collection and use, additional profile information collection, or shipping address information collection does not amount to rejecting the new terms themselves.
If users withdraw consent for those items, they will simply lose access to certain convenience features such as Kakao Map, KakaoTalk birthday reminders, and shipping address information used in KakaoTalk's gifting service. As false information continued to spread widely, Kakao decided to remove a clause from the existing terms that said it could "recommend personalized content and provide advertisements by mechanically analyzing or summarizing usage patterns," in an effort to clear up misunderstandings.
Is that true?" and "If I withdraw my consent to use the service now, will that stop my personal data from being collected?" Around February 4, alarming rumors began spreading rapidly through online communities and social networking services (SNS). The claims said that "starting on the 11th, Kakao will collect and use users' activity logs and usage patterns without their consent.Is that true?" and "If I withdraw my consent to use the service now, will that stop my personal data from being collected?" Around February 4, alarming rumors began spreading rapidly through online communities and social networking services (SNS). The claims said that "starting on the 11th, Kakao will collect and use users' activity logs and usage patterns without their consent.
However, the wording that anticipates the enforcement of the Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence will remain.
It states that services operated based on artificial intelligence may be included, and that if AI-generated results are provided, users will be notified in accordance with applicable laws.
Kakao plans to finalize this revision to the terms and put it into effect starting on the 21st.
bng@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Hee-sun Reporter