Strange KT Policy
Coffee shop chain Starbucks is raising controversy over requesting excessive personal information to only Koreans who want to use KT’s Olleh wireless network service in Starbucks locations.
On Nov. 6, the blog Back to the Mac, which tells news related to Apple Macintosh, posted an article saying, “I am sure people go to Starbucks often, so I am going to share a useful tip,” adding, “There are many things to check and agree after getting access to Starbucks Wifi, but it becomes simpler when pressing the English button.”
If a user cooperates with the Korean-language site when signing up to use Starbucks' WiFi, they must enter in their name, email address, mobile phone company, and mobile phone number. However, if a user opts to use the English-language interface, he or she only has to enter a username and email address. Therefore, Starbucks is requiring a complicated authentication process to only domestic customers.
An official at Starbucks explained, “Korea Telecom [KT] is providing the free mobile WIFI service,” adding, “Collecting phone numbers from domestic customers just complies with KT’s policy.”
In response to the controversy, KT said, “We are collecting information to provide services to consumers according to the information and telecommunication network law,” adding, “Recorded information will be only used for providing services and handling users’ complaints, not for any other purpose.”
Several years ago, it was the other way around. Local users still had to enter in the same amount of information, but international users had to verify their passport numbers as valid before using the service. The current method is still excessive, but now for Korean citizens.