The National Communications Commission (NCC) is soon to establish an Internet communication governance department to address an increasing number of communications issues regarding the use of cross-border digital platforms.
Current communications regulations have become inadequate in overseeing online media, as communications over the Internet are instant and cross-national, NCC Department of Broadcasting and Content Affairs Director Huang Wen-che (黃文哲) told a news conference.
“Rules, policies, standards and practices in the global cyberspace should be shaped through coordination between multiple stakeholders, which would ensure a free, safe and reliable cyberspace,” he said.
The new department would be in charge of planning, formulating and implementing Internet communications governance policies, including protecting Internet users’ rights, studying latest trends in Internet governance and online user behavior, and establishing a dispute arbitration and accountability mechanism for Internet communications, Huang said.
The NCC last month introduced a draft digital intermediary service act, which would establish a foundation to ensure that digital intermediary service providers follow self-regulatory mechanisms and protect Internet users’ rights.
The funding for the foundation, which would come from several government organizations, would be about NT$2.5 billion (US$83.62 million) at the initial stage, the draft act states.
The new department would oversee the operations of the foundation, Huang said.
Huang dismissed opposition lawmakers’ claims that the foundation would censor online content, similar to Martial Law-era censorship, and help the ruling Democratic Progressive Party harass people who disagree with government policies.
The foundation would help the government implement Internet governance policies by convening meetings that would be attended by multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, platform operators, civic groups and experts, Huang said.
“The foundation will assist government agencies in handling tortious acts committed over the Internet, such as copyright infringement and disinformation,” Huang said.
However, the commission has yet to decide whether the funding for the foundation at the initial stage would come solely from government agencies or would be shared by multiple stakeholders, Huang said, adding that it would listen to the public about this issue.
Sixty-one employees from the commission’s Department of Infrastructure and Cybersecurity, and Department of Frequency and Resources would be transferred to a ministry of digital development that is scheduled to be established by the end of next month.
The remaining employees from both departments would be consolidated under the Infrastructure Department, which is part of the commission and is in charge of certifying base stations, mobile phones and radio-frequency devices.
Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang (唐鳳) is widely believed to head the planned ministry.
Upon its completion next year, the new Tamkang Bridge (淡江大橋) in New Taipei City is to be an important landmark in Taiwan, alongside Taipei 101, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shi-kai (陳世凱) said today. The bridge is scheduled to be completed in December next year and open to the public in the first half of 2026, connecting New Taipei City’s Tamsui (淡水) and Bali (八里) districts. It is an asymmetric single-tower suspension bridge, nearly 70 stories tall, designed by world-famous architect Zaha Hadid. The bridge aims to alleviate traffic in Tamsui and on the Guandu Bridge (關渡大橋), in addition to increasing the
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: As some roads would be fully or partially closed, people are advised to take the MRT, with services expanded to accommodate more riders This year’s Taipei Marathon, which has obtained its first gold label certification from World Athletics, is to be held from 5am to 1pm tomorrow and would have 28,000 participants. The race is to start from the Taipei City Plaza and would go through major roads throughout the city, with traffic control implemented from 6am to 2pm, officials said. The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system and New Taipei City MRT Circle line would start operating at 5am on the day of the race, they said. The race would cover Renai Road, Xinyi Road, Hangzhou S Road, Aiguo east and west roads,
EXERCISES: A 2022 article by a Chinese intelligence expert identified at least six People’s Liberation Army assault boats hidden inside the Hong Kong-flagged ship A Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship that had been docked at Taichung Port and which previously took part in Chinese military exercises departed from the port on Saturday, the Taiwan International Ports Corp’s Taichung branch said yesterday. The statement came in response to a post on the social media platform X by Taiwan-based journalist Chris Horton that said the ship, the SCSC Fortune, had been docked at the port since Tuesday and questioned whether Taiwan has any rules regarding foreign civilian vessels that have participated in People’s Liberation Army (PLA) exercises. Horton referenced a 2022 article by Chinese intelligence expert Rod Lee that
PROBLEMATIC: Popular hotpot restaurant chains were among the list of restaurants that failed the inspection and have been ordered to remove bad ingredients The Taipei Department of Health’s latest inspection of hotpot ingredients in hotpot restaurants resulted in a 16.7 percent failure rate. Eight vegetables had excessive pesticide residue and two other items had aflatoxin and excessive preservatives. As the weather is getting colder, more people eat at hotpot restaurants so a random inspection of ingredients was conducted in October to ensure food safety, the department said. Food and Drug Division Director Lin Kuan-chen (林冠蓁) said 60 different ingredients were tested: 15 high-risk vegetables, 15 processed food items, 10 soy-based food items, five meat items, five lamb items, five seafood items and five peanut powder
RSS