The Tax Reform Alliance (公平稅改聯盟) yesterday asked the National Communications Commission (NCC) to ban three commercials on tax policy paid for by a local business association, saying the ads were designed to mislead the public.
The alliance said the commercials violated the Broadcast and Television Law (廣播電視法), which bans broadcasting unsubstantiated or misleading information.
In its statement, the alliance said the Chinese National Federation of Industries (全國工業總會) was behind the commercials.
PHOTO: CNA
“The commercials mislead viewers with biased statistics and statements taken out of context. They twist the experience of other countries to make the public believe that lowering the tax rate is the way to boost the economy.”
Joined by members of Media Watch, a media watchdog group, the alliance presented a petition to the NCC.
The commission said that based on interpretations from the Council of Grand Justices, television commercials promoting certain concepts or services are protected by freedom of speech.
It said that the content of ads need not be reviewed by the NCC before they are put on air.
The commission said it might, however, hand the case to an independent panel that reviews television programs and commercials.
The commission said the alliance could seek to take action under the Satellite Broadcasting Law (衛星廣播電視法).
The law says that stakeholders mentioned in commercials are entitled to ask the broadcaster to correct any mistakes within 20 days of airing an ad for the first time.
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