South China Morning Post
Dater: 27 Jul, 2019
By: Lawrence Chung
- Over 100 prosecuted and tougher penalties planned after false stories such as claim Taiwanese government funded Hong Kong protests
- Justice ministry investigating whether mainland is funding preferred candidates for January’s elections or giving orders to media outlets
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Protesters hold placards saying “reject red media” and “safeguard the nation’s democracy” during a rally against pro-China media in Taipei last month. Photo: AFP
A 70-year-old woman in New Taipei City was fined NT$30,000 (US$960) last week for spreading fake information, becoming the latest of more than 110 people prosecuted under the island’s social order maintenance law since the authorities decided in December to take tougher action against disinformation.
It comes after hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese people took to the streets last month to protest against what they dubbed the “red media” – funded by Beijing – fearing the harm such misinformation could do to Taiwan’s stability. [FULL STORY]