Though for many tomorrow's Chinese Valentine's Day is sure to be a romantic occasion, for some careless lonelyhearts it could also be dangerous.
With more people looking for love online, the Taipei City Police Department and the Modern Women's Foundation yesterday called on the public -- especially the younger generations -- to be aware of the growing threat of Internet-related sex crime.
"As the Internet becomes a popular tool for meeting new friends or lovers, Internet chat rooms have turned into a hotbed for sex crime," said Chang Su-ling (張素苓), captain of the Women's Police Station of Taipei, at a joint press conference with the foundation.
"The growing rate of Internet crimes against children and young women is the latest issue we need to address," Chang said.
Statistics released by the police station showed that more than 50 percent of a total of 828 Internet crime cases reported between January and June in Taipei City involve violations of the Child and Youth Sexual Transaction Prevention Act (兒童及青少年性交易防治條例).
Sexual abuse cases which involved the Internet made up for more than 10 percent of the 450 sexual abuse cases reported to the domestic-violence prevention center in Taipei last year.
Chang said that Internet abusers usually lure victims to remote places or their own houses shortly after meeting them online. Internet abusers often put sleeping pills or drugs in victims' and then sexually abuse them after they pass out.
"Victims of Internet sex crime often fall into the trap because of the unrealistic fantasy of finding love on the Internet. While there are wonderful relationships that can start online, we want to remind people to be very cautious when you want to meet up with friends you met on the Internet," she said.
Chang advised meeting an online love interest in a public place and asking friends or family members to come along for the rendezvous or at least keep tabs on the date. To avoid being drugged, Chang said it was important not to imbibe a drink if you haven't been able to keep a close eye on it, or have to leave and come back to the table during a date.
Jennifer Wang (王如玄), a director at the foundation, said that while Internet dating is not a crime, any sexual abuse or harassment involving the Internet -- especially sex crimes against girls under 16 years old -- are a serious violation of the Sexual Abuse Prevention Act (性侵害防治法) and the Child and Youth Sexual Transaction Prevention Act.
The foundation called on the parents to monitor their children's Internet activity, and if they suspect them of running away for an Internet rendezvous or failing to return from such a meeting, to report to the police station immediately with all telephone and log-in records.
Illegal Web sites or incidents of Internet-related sex crimes should be reported to the police at 02-2769-7403 or through the police Web site cib.gov.tw.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck off Tainan at 11:47am today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The hypocenter was 32.3km northeast of Tainan City Hall at a depth of 7.3km, CWA data showed. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Tainan and Chiayi County on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. The quake had an intensity of 3 in Chiayi City and County, and Yunlin County, while it was measured as 2 in Kaohsiung, Nantou County, Changhua County, Taitung County and offshore Penghu County, the data showed. There were no immediate reports of
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
RSS