Influencer fined $3,000 for pre-election bikini poll

A social media influencer has been fined NT$100,000 (approximately $3,000 USD) for violating Taiwan's election law by posting bikini photos with politically charged captions just days before the presidential election. The influencer, known for her "bikini hiking" social media presence, had posted three photos on Instagram featuring herself in blue, green, and white bikinis, with captions like "White is okay with me," "Green is not bad," and "Blue is great for Hou." She invited followers to vote for their preferred color.

Central Election Commission (CEC) officials cited a prohibition against releasing public opinion polls within 10 days of an election. The influencer, identified by the surname Zou, argued that her post was merely for entertainment and marketing to boost her social media engagement, claiming it had no connection to the presidential election. She stated that the captions did not include candidates' full names, party platforms, or policies and that she was also running for a position in a kayaking club at the time, using humor to solicit votes.

However, the Taipei High Administrative Court disagreed. The court found that the captions, using colors associated with the three main presidential candidates and their parties (white for Ko Wen-je, green for the Democratic Progressive Party, and blue for the Kuomintang), were objectively linked to the election. The court noted that the timing of the post, just four days before the election, and the social atmosphere at the time made it likely that the public would interpret the bikini poll as related to the presidential race.

The court also pointed to Zou's other social media posts, which featured a variety of bikini colors, suggesting her deliberate choice of blue, green, and white for this particular poll was not arbitrary. The ruling stated that using pseudonyms, homophones, or claiming the posts were just for fun or jokes does not excuse violations of election regulations. The court upheld the CEC's fine, concluding that Zou's actions constituted a violation of the election law.