The Gwangju Metropolitan City Office of Education's initiative to establish a youth cyber crime prevention unit, known as 'NET-it', has faced criticism from the Gwangju Teachers' Union. They argue that the program, aimed at addressing cyberbullying, infringes on students' human rights by necessitating constant surveillance of peers' online activities. The union has filed a complaint with the Gwangju office of the National Human Rights Commission, emphasizing the potential violation of privacy rights as students would be observing and reporting on each other’s social media use.

The program proposed by the education office seeks to enhance student-led initiatives against cyberbullying across primary, middle, and high schools. Students participating in the program are required to engage in monthly missions that include reporting and preventing online harassment, identifying victims, and addressing illegal online activities such as gambling. This approach raises further concerns that students could become agents of surveillance among their peers, introducing a binary structure of observers and observed, which may harm the mental and emotional development of the students involved.

Additionally, critics point out that while students are supposed to be engaging in educational and preventative actions, the potential for exposure to harmful content remains significant. They warn that requiring students to actively report harmful sites might unintentionally expose them to such content. Furthermore, the demands of the program, particularly during school breaks, are viewed as infringing on students' rights to rest and relaxation. The education office maintains their commitment to combating cyber violence and enhancing awareness, stating that any signs of illegal or harmful content must be reported. However, the union's concerns highlight the delicate balance that needs to be struck between safety measures and respecting the personal freedoms of students.