A Facebook campaign against a proposal by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to block Web sites that seriously violate copyrights has attracted the support of more than 37,000 Internet users.
Concerned about the spread of unauthorized copies of videos and music on the Internet, the office proposed amending the Copyright Act (著作權法) to block Web sites that contain a large amount of material or content engaged in “flagrant copyright violations.”
Although it is only a proposal, it has stirred an uproar online, with netizens calling it an encroachment on freedom of expression.
“What’s wrong with the government? It has no solution for problems that the public is facing, but it’s quick to come up with a policy proposal that is unconstitutional and restricts civil liberties,” Yang Cheng-chuan (楊正傳) wrote in a message posted on the Facebook campaign against the proposal.
“The government may do more stupid things like this, and we the people will teach you a lesson with our ballots,” Yang wrote.
The campaign, called “Free and Open,” was started by several netizens after news of the IPO’s proposal came out and in less than five days, more than 37,000 Facebook users have joined the campaign.
Many of the netizens said the proposal reminds them of Internet control in China.
“If the government continues to strengthen control [over the Internet], we would not be like China; we are more likely to become the next North Korea,” Facebook user Lu Hsi-yen (呂錫彥) said.
Besides criticizing the policy, netizens also called on the public to protest to the IPO.
“If you think the proposal is unreasonable — as you should since it would definitely affect you — then write to the IPO to protest,” Facebook user Kung Kai Lin said.
In spite of criticism from the public and lawmakers, the IPO has said it is firmly backing the proposal.
It has promised to set up strict procedures for evaluating whether a Web site should be blocked and has said it will only target Web sites with servers located abroad that seriously violate copyrights.
Internet users have questioned the effectiveness of such a measure in stopping copyright violations, because illegal copies of copyrighted material will still be on the Web site even if they are blocked from access by Internet users in Taiwan.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
Myanmar has turned down an offer of assistance from Taiwanese search-and-rescue teams after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the nation on Friday last week, saying other international aid is sufficient, the National Fire Agency said yesterday. More than 1,700 have been killed and 3,400 injured in the quake that struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a magnitude 6.7 aftershock. Worldwide, 13 international search-and-rescue teams have been deployed, with another 13 teams mobilizing, the agency said. Taiwan’s search-and-rescue teams were on standby, but have since been told to stand down, as
RSS