There is no legal basis for restricting public use of TikTok, the Executive Yuan said yesterday, but added that it would consult regulations in other countries and stakeholders in Taiwan to determine if there is a need to amend laws.
Many countries have taken measures against the short-form video-sharing platform owned by China-based ByteDance over fears that it might endanger national security.
In Taiwan, government employees have been prohibited from using Chinese social media platforms, including TikTok, since 2019, Executive Yuan spokesman Lo Ping-cheng (羅秉成) said.
Photo: Reuters
The scope of that policy was expanded last month to ban the use of such platforms at public events and the venues where they are held, he said.
The government is to review measures taken by other countries and solicit opinions from all sectors in Taiwan to assess the necessity of amending the law to provide the legal grounds for a nationwide ban, he said.
The Cabinet yesterday convened a meeting on cybersecurity to discuss information security strategies and how to manage products that pose a threat to the nation’s cybersecurity, Lo said.
In the face of ever-changing types of cyberattacks, it is difficult to ensure that information security breaches never occur, he said.
Government agencies are asked to quickly recover from attacks, learn about their weaknesses and enhance their protection, he said.
Platforms or applications that can distribute videos, images and audio should be regulated, and the restrictions should be included in outsourcing contracts or venue regulations, he said.
The measures should be fully implemented and the Department of Cyber Security is to inspect various agencies periodically, he added.
As companies and the public are likely to purchase Chinese Internet-connected devices, the government should step up information security protections, especially for products with cameras that might pose security threats, Lo said.
Government agencies have established information security standards and developed detection capabilities for 16 types of products such as video cameras and electronic locks, he said.
The standards might eventually be applied nationwide, he added.
Agencies should build awareness about information security issues in the industries they are in charge of and encourage companies and the public to purchase products with information security protections, he said.
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
EVA Airways today confirmed the death of a flight attendant on Saturday upon their return to Taiwan and said an internal investigation has been launched, as criticism mounted over a social media post accusing the airline of failing to offer sufficient employee protections. According to the post, the flight attendant complained of feeling sick on board a flight, but was unable to take sick leave or access medical care. The crew member allegedly did not receive assistance from the chief purser, who failed to heed their requests for medical attention or call an ambulance once the flight landed, the post said. As sick
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INDUSTRY: Beijing’s latest export measures go beyond targeting the US and would likely affect any country that uses Chinese rare earths or related tech, an academic said Taiwanese industries could face significant disruption from China’s newly tightened export controls on rare earth elements, as much of Taiwan’s supply indirectly depends on Chinese materials processed in Japan, a local expert said yesterday. Kristy Hsu (徐遵慈), director of the Taiwan ASEAN Studies Center at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, said that China’s latest export measures go far beyond targeting the US and would likely affect any country that uses Chinese rare earths or related technologies. With Japan and Southeast Asian countries among those expected to be hit, Taiwan could feel the impact through its reliance on Japanese-made semi-finished products and
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