Meta Suspensions Spark Outrage, Demand for Action Against Taiwan's Digital Minister

Taiwan's Digital Minister faces mounting pressure to address a widespread suspension of Meta accounts, which has affected prominent figures including Ko Wen-je, chairman of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), and TPP legislative caucus members.

Huang Kuo-chang, the TPP chairman, publicly called on the Digital Development Administration to take action, stating that a mere press release would not suffice. However, his appeal backfired, drawing sharp criticism online. Many questioned his previous opposition to the Digital Intermediary Service Act and recalled his past calls to significantly cut the digital ministry's budget, with critics accusing him of hypocrisy.

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This situation, with its rampant and inexplicable suspensions, not only severely impacts users but also concerns Taiwan's digital sovereignty, which cannot be arbitrarily infringed upon. The Digital Ministry should take more active steps to demand that the digital capital behemoth provide specific reasons and future solutions.

The Digital Intermediary Service Act, drafted in 2022, aimed to regulate online platforms to combat fraud and misinformation. It faced strong opposition from the Kuomintang and TPP, who labeled it a tool for government overreach and censorship. The bill was eventually shelved after public outcry.

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So why did you oppose the Digital Intermediary Service Act?

Now, with numerous users experiencing "unexplained suspensions" on Meta platforms, Huang's call for the Digital Development Administration to "take more active steps" and demand explanations and solutions from Meta has ignited a firestorm. Online commenters have flooded his post with questions about his past stance on the Digital Intermediary Service Act and budget cuts, with some sarcastically thanking him for "finally supporting" the act.

The controversy also reignited discussions about past budget battles, where the TPP and KMT were criticized for significantly reducing the digital ministry's budget. Critics are now questioning Huang's demands for action from a ministry whose budget he previously sought to slash, labeling the situation as hypocritical and damaging to Taiwan's political discourse.

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You previously called the Digital Development Administration useless and cut its budget, and now you're demanding it take action? What kind of nonsense is this!