Plans to intensify South Korea’s review of web content, including social networking sites and mobile phone applications have been released.

The review, which aims to combat a surge in “illegal and harmful” information online, has been underway since 2008, but the Korea Communications Standards Commission’s latest plans to reshuffle departments will make way for a review team that will oversee new media content.

Social media users and civic groups believe the new plans constitute a clamp down on freedom of expression.