사이버 공간 범죄와 온라인서비스제공자(OSP)의 형사책임

2006. 4. 28. 선고 2003도4128 판결을 중심으로

O.S.P. shall be criminally liable for offenses committed in cyber space on condition that it could be aware of its occurrences nevertheless nothing is taken expected elimination measures technically by itself. In principle, a professional person who manages its cyber space may suffer punishment and then a company that hires him suffer punishment as prescribed by penalty against employer and employee. O.S.P. could receive a criminal penalty for a crime omission as in the following conditions, first, it has found offenses committed in its cyber space or has not found it because of gross negligence, carelessness by O.S.P., second, O.S.P. have a technical skill and system for expected prevention or elimination a crime happened in cyber space but it didn’t do anything. A willful negligence by O.S.P. may be sufficient for criminal responsibility. The judgement as aforementioned cast a long shadow to us because it has set up the condition of O.S.P.’s criminal penalty in other words,possibilities of awareness, technical prevention, expectation for elimination illegal situation in cyber space etc. It is significant that O.S.P. could supervise and control its cyber space as a dangerous factor connected to offenses. However it feels lack of logical reasoning such like that. Now, we should fully discuss the matter that the building measures of prevention adverse effect by cyber space. The responsibility of O.S.P. should be imposed stringently than ever because offenses in cyber space could be occurred under unsuspected, usual time as a result damage may be very serious, mortal to a personal victim.