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In Taiwan, censorship involves the suppression of speech or public communication and raises issues of freedom of speech, which is protected by Article 11 of the Constitution of the Republic of China. There exist a number of cases where freedom of speech is restricted by the law, which include defamation, breach of privacy, infringement of copyright, pornography, incitement to commit crimes, sale of prohibited items and distribution of offensive or distributing content.[1]
During the martial law in Taiwan from 1947 to 1987, the government exercised strict media control, initially carried out by the Nationalist government which governed mainland China prior to retreating to Taiwan in 1949. Under martial law, the Kuomintang (KMT)-ruled government engaged in censorship to prevent criticism of it, as part of its opposition to certain cultural products, and as a feature of anti-communist campaigns against the Chinese Communist Party. Media control was greatly relaxed when the state moved away from authoritarianism in 1987.
In 7 April 1989, pro-democracy activist Cheng Nan-jung set himself on fire in support of freedom of speech.[2] Since the death of Cheng, Taiwan abolished the Publication Law and amended Cable Television Law in 1999.[3] In 2012, the Government Information Office, the former main media censorship organisation was dismissed.[4] Since 2016, this date of Cheng's death has been commemorated as Freedom of Speech Day in Taiwan.[2] According to Reporters Without Borders, Taiwan "generally respects the principles of media freedom."[5] According to Freedom House, "technical censorship is not routine in Taiwan."[6]
In recent years, under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan has taken steps that some perceive as edging towards media censorship.[7] These measures, purportedly aimed at combating fake news, have sparked controversy, particularly among the KMT and their supporters.[8]
- ^ "言論自由". 中小學資訊素養認知網.
- ^ a b "Ministry announces Freedom of Speech Day events". Taipei Times. 2024-04-05. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
- ^ Chen, Marlene (1999). "Legislative Yuan's Eleventh-Hour Rush". Sinorama (2). Translated by Brent Heinrich.
- ^ "Taiwan Information Office Closes". Voice of America. 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
- ^ "Taiwan | RSF". Reporters Without Borders. 2023-12-13. Archived from the original on 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
- ^ "Taiwan: Freedom on the Net 2023 Country Report". Freedom House. Archived from the original on 2024-08-03. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
- ^ Tensley, Brandon; Garcia-Millan, Tania; Gelman, Jeffrey; Madan, Tanvi; Moore, Scott; Pryor, Crystal; Reijula, Lisa; Smolinske, Nicole; Weatherby, Courtney (2019). The Implications of Taiwan's Growing Media Challenges (Report). Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). pp. 37–41.
- ^ "DPP says free speech not a shield for media outlets". Taipei Times. 2019-04-13. Retrieved 2024-12-06.