빅데이터 시대 개인정보로서의 IP 주소의 지위 - IP 주소 관련 국내외 개인정보보호법제의 입법동향 및 우리나라의 입법개선을 위한 소고 -

Facing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, data are considered one of the main means of driving digital economic growth in the future. Personal information, which was previously only recognized as a subject of protection, is now receiving attention as an important means of achieving economic benefits along with the use of big data. In order to develop the use and protection of personal information harmoniously, there is a growing need to establish various systems to support it. In particular, the transition from the IPv4 to IPv6 has been made worldwide, and the importance of IP addresses that can be a link to various digital information in the Age of Big data has become even greater, regardless they are static or dynamic IP address. In this article, we discussed IP addresses, a kind of digital personal information, and reviewed the current Personal Information Protection Act and Act on Promotion of Information and Communication Network Utilization and Information Protection, ETC., along with domestic and foreign discussions on whether or not IP addresses are recognized personal information. To ensure a harmonious development of the utilization and protection of digital personal information, it is necessary that the Personal Information Protection Act specifies that the IP address is personal information. If information users recognize that the IP address is personal information before collecting and using it, and perform the legal agreement procedure accordingly, it will be ensured that the unidentified IP address can be used freely within the legal framework. In addition, the individual will be able to relieve the fear that the safeguards specified in the law may cause the leakage and abuse of personal information, IP addresses. Clearly defining legal boundaries harmonizes the rights of data users to run business and the rights of data providers to keep privacy is expected to enable the growth of the digital industry.