NSB Monitoring Social Media Platforms for Slander|國安局坦承監控臉書 蒐詆毀元首情資
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National Security Bureau Director-General Peng Sheng-chu confirmed that the National Security Bureau is monitoring Facebook and other public social media platforms to collect information, such as slander against the head of state, leading to concerns about the suppression of freedom of speech. In response, the bureau said it is only gathering information on twisted and false public statements, and it's not targeting anyone.
We are only monitoring public platforms such as Facebook. We are only gathering intelligence from this type of social platform. So Facebook is one of them. Yes, Facebook is one of them.
On Nov. 1, National Security Bureau (NSB) Director-General Peng Sheng-chu attended a legislative interpellation. He confirmed that the NSB is monitoring and gathering intelligence from public sites such as Facebook. The type of intelligence it is gathering includes slander against the head of state and three other types of intelligence that threaten national security. In response, pan-blue legislators asked Peng how the NSB defines slander against the head of state.
What we see is controversial information, and we review this controversial information with ministries.
In response, netizens questioned if this type of action by the NSB was throttling the freedom of speech. Faced with public backlash, the NSB hurried to issue a statement, which said the NSB will not interfere with the people's right to freedom of speech. It added its monitoring is not targeted. It also shifted the blame to the Chinese Communist Party and foreign entities, saying they are disseminating false information slandering Taiwan's head of state and that is why it is gathering intelligence. It gave examples of times when there was slander against the head of state, such as information surrounding President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the Los Angeles store of local bakery chain 85C Bakery Café in August. It said there was also false information circulating that Tsai requested a fully-armed armored fighting vehicle when visiting flood victims, and reports on a Chinese website that Tsai was giving Taiping Island to the United States.
Intelligence gathering agencies should strictly maintain their own work discipline. Independent entities also need to oversee and investigate the process to avert the abuse of power.
Scholars add it is acceptable for the government to gather intelligence on slander against the head of state if it is legally authorized, but the definition of slander should not be overly broadened to avert public fears. There should also be strict boundaries on how the intelligence is used. Meanwhile, pan-blue lawmakers say the NSB is threatening democracy, and they will call on the justice minister and the Investigation Bureau director-general to emphasize that administrative neutrality must be strictly maintained in the run-up to the local elections.
