Protests broke out outside the National Communications Commission after an audio recording came to light, suggesting the government had pressured the country's media watchdog to grant a license to Mirror News. TPP members also demanded a more thorough investigation.
TPP members chanted slogans against political manipulation and for freedom of the press outside the National Communications Commission on Sept. 30. A legislator previously made public an audio recording from a Mirror TV shareholders meeting that showed government officials intervening to pressure the NCC into granting a broadcast license. The TPP decided to organize a protest. It demanded an explanation and for the NCC to abide by laws in its administration.
Chiu Chen-yuan, Legislator (TPP): “Has Taiwan already become North Korea? Is Taiwan a Communist country? Can you all accept this current situation?”
Premier Su Tseng-chang has been named as one of those government officials that intervened to help Mirror TV. He has repeatedly denied any involvement. When asked whether he will sue to clear his name, Su responded that the NCC is an independent body and he has never meddled.
Su Tseng-chang, Premier: “The NCC is an independent body that has the power to operate independently. We have never intervened. I already answered all your questions during the interpellation. Responsible agencies will of course deal with any illegal matters according to law.”
Meanwhile, the NCC said it has already received 123 complaints as of Sept. 29 regarding allegations made by media personality Clara Chou on a TV program. She accused KMT Taipei City mayoral candidate Chiang Wan-an's father Chiang Hsiao-yen of having an affair with former Miss R.O.C. Chang Shu-chuan.
Chen Yaw-shyang, Chairperson, National Communications Commission: “Generally speaking, we want them to provide more documentation. Sometimes during the process of submitting a complaint, people will write it very simply, and those responsible for responding will ask them to elaborate, so the speed at which we respond will differ.”
There were also complaints against the TV program submitted at the end of 2021, but no penalties were issued until very recently. KMT legislators asked the NCC to explain what took so long. The NCC denied dragging its feet, explaining that if people aren't clear about their complaints, they will be asked to provide more documentation or elaborate, and everything is handled according to law.
大聲喊著口號，拒絕政治黑手，保障新聞自由，因為日前有立委公開鏡電視股東會錄音檔，質疑政治力介入NCC的鏡電視申設案，民眾黨成員因此大陣仗到NCC外抗議、陳情，要求NCC依法行政。
民眾黨立委邱臣遠說道：「台灣已經變成北韓了嗎，我們台灣是共產主義國家嗎，這樣子的狀況你們可以接受嗎？」
對於被在野黨指控，涉入鏡電視申設案，行政院長蘇貞昌多次駁斥，不過30日持續被媒體追問是否提告自清，蘇貞昌再度重申，NCC是獨立機關，從不干預。
蘇貞昌表示：「NCC是獨立機關，依職權獨立運作，我們從不干預相關的問題。在總質詢時已經明白答覆，如有任何違法等事項，主責機關當然都會依法處理。」
此外，對於媒體人周玉蔻在民視「辣新聞152」節目中的爆料爭議，NCC主委陳耀祥也證實，至昨日下午4時已收到對123件檢舉案。
陳耀祥說道：「都是基本上是希望他們補件的問題，我們每個民眾的檢舉過程裡面有時候他是簡單的寫，我們的處理機關、單位會要求他說明一下，所以說會快慢不一的問題就會有。」
對於被質疑「辣新聞152」節目去（2021）年底遭到檢舉卻拖至近期才裁罰，引來藍營人士到NCC潑漆表達不滿，陳耀祥特別澄清，如果民眾陳情不清楚，會要求補件或說明，一切依法而行沒有拖延。