The Executive Yuan yesterday approved draft amendments to the Criminal Code, which would make virus spreading and other computer crimes illegal.
The draft will proceed to the Legislative Yuan for further review and final approval.
Addressing the press conference held after the weekly closed-door Cabinet affairs meeting yesterday morning, Cabinet spokesman Chuang Suo-hang (莊碩漢) said that the amendments are made in accordance with the rapid development of computer technology and the prevalence of the Internet.
"As new types of computer crimes emerge, it's necessary to make adjustments to the Criminal Code," Chuang quoted Premier Yu Shyi-kun as saying.
Under the draft, those who program or spread damaging computer viruses would be subject to a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and/or a fine of NT$500,000.
The draft would also raise the jail terms and fines for those who use automatic teller machines to unlawfully obtain money or engage in illegal financial transactions.
The maximum sentence would be increased from the original three years to five and a maximum fine from NT$10,000 to NT$100,000.
Those who deliberately acquire, delete or alter information stored on the computer of another individual and cause damage to the individual or the public could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and/or a fine of NT$200,000.
The draft would also impose a maximum sentence of three years and a fine of NT$100,000 to those who deliberately break into computer accounts, crack computer protection codes or take advantage of computer systems for unlawful gains.
Violators could face a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of NT$100,000.
A maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of NT$100,000 would be imposed to those who deliberately use a computer program or other magnetic means to damage another computer system.
Those who break into government computer systems and cause a leak of national secrets or endanger national security would face more severe prison terms.
Those who deliberately acquire, delete or alter the information stored on the government's computer system could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of NT$400,000.
Those who deliberately break into the government's computer system, crack the government's computer protection code or take advantage of the government's computer system could be subject to a maximum jail term of seven years in prison and a fine of NT$20,000.
Those who deliberately use a computer program or other magnetic means to interrupt the government's computer system could face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a fine of NT$200,000.
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