Lawmakers from the pan-green camp yesterday cited the need to protect democracy from fabricated news as they endorsed the National Communications Commission’s (NCC) decision not to renew the operating license of CTi News.
“Media is the fourth estate as the fourth power in a democracy and has the right to protect freedom of expression. However, this freedom must not be used to produce and circulate ‘fake’ news, which they [CTi News] have done so many times and fined by the NCC following investigations. People can look up the many cases of CTi News’ violations,” Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lin I-chin (林宜瑾) said.
“Right now Taiwan has a powerful neighboring country intending to annex us, so Taiwan must take up ‘defensive democracy,’” Lin said, referring to China. “To protect our precious freedom and democracy, we have to concede some rights.”
Photo: Chen Chien-chih, Taipei Times
“Using disinformation and ‘fake’ news to sabotage our political system is not the intended aim of the protection of the freedom of expression,” she said.
“On the contrary, not renewing the license for CTi News works for the protection of Taiwan’s freedom and democracy,” she said.
DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) wrote on Facebook that the NCC’s review was based on professional media standards, which have remained the same regardless of who is in power — the DPP, or the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).
“Television network channels are public property and operating licenses are renewed after a six-year period. Its the same for every television outlet. The NCC is an independent body, with procedures and standards for its assessments, and some outlets might fail the assessments with below-par scores. The process and the result can be subjected to public scrutiny,” Wang said.
The NCC in 2010 rejected the license renewal application of ERA TV, as it had repeatedly contravened the rules by using embedded advertising, as well as other offenses.
“Now the NCC has decided not to renew the license for CTi News. It is also based on the same standards and assessment procedures. The process has not changed, and it is the same whether we have the DPP or the KMT in power,” Wang said.
Taiwan Statebuilding Party Legislator Chen Po-wei (陳柏惟) said that people have seen the background of the NCC’s decision.
There are foreign forces behind CTi News that aim to destabilize and cause strife in Taiwanese society, Chen said.
China aims to annex Taiwan, and it penetrates into the media and many other sectors of our society, he added.
“My party and I are now relieved that Taiwanese no longer have to put up with a TV news station producing and circulating ‘fake’ news with a disregard for ethics and professionalism in journalism. We are happy that people do not have to tolerate any more of CTi News’ actions to create social conflict,” he said.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
Speeding and badly maintained roads were the main causes of a school bus accident on a rainy day in Taipei last year that severely injured two people and left 22 with minor injuries, the Taiwan Transportation and Safety Board said. On March 11 last year, a Kang Chiao International School bus overturned inside the Wenshan Tunnel (文山隧道) on the northbound lane of the Xinyi Expressway. The tour bus, owned by Long Lai Co, exceeded the speed limit after entering the tunnel, the board’s investigation found. Sensing that the rear of the vehicle was swaying, the driver attempted to use the service and exhaust