Tainan shop owner sues netizens over simplified Chinese characters; cases dismissed due to lack of IP data

A beef noodle shop in Tainan, Taiwan, found itself embroiled in an online controversy after initially using simplified Chinese characters on its signage. The shop, which advertised "raw beef noodle soup," faced backlash from some consumers who labeled the characters as "残体字" (cán tǐ zì), a derogatory term for simplified Chinese, implying they were damaged or incomplete.

Despite the owner's decision to change the sign to traditional Taiwanese characters, the online criticism persisted. Even after the switch, netizens continued to leave negative comments on the shop's advertisements posted on Meta platforms. This sustained online harassment prompted the owner to file defamation lawsuits against more than 10 netizens.

The owner expressed frustration, stating that they were merely trying to run a business and had not provoked any disputes. The continuous attacks, even after changing the signage, severely impacted the shop's survival. The owner declared they would not be intimidated and would pursue legal action.

However, the legal proceedings hit a roadblock. The police precinct handling the case dismissed the lawsuits against over 10 netizens this month. The reason cited was Meta's policy, which prevents the disclosure of user IP data for defamation cases in Taiwan. This lack of access to IP information makes it impossible for the police to identify and summon the individuals responsible for the online comments, leaving the cases in a stalemate. The police urged both businesses and consumers to engage rationally to avoid wasting social resources.

“

I have sued 20 netizens. I am just opening a shop and have not argued with netizens. Even after changing the sign, I am still being relentlessly attacked. Some netizens even started new topics to attack me, which seriously affects the survival of the store.