Vice Premier Chang San-cheng stated today that with online activity increasingly widespread, inappropriate postings and "online bullying" have been occurring, and the government is obligated to work to improve the situation.
Measures to reduce online bullying include providing assistance to the general public, strengthening self-discipline of website managers and operators, and educating the public via enhanced publicity. Public-private collaboration and integration of existing mechanisms and resources are to be carried out.
To provide assistance to the public, current laws such as the Criminal Code of the Republic of China, the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act, and the Civil Code can be applied to incidents of online bullying, Chang pointed out. The government must integrate existing mechanisms and resources to help the public understand the means available to safeguard their rights and interests.
Chang emphasized that the National Communications Commission (NCC) has commissioned a private organization to set up the Institute of Watch Internet Network (iWIN), which handles citizens' reports of violations of the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act.
To strengthen self-discipline of website managers and operators for schools and universities using Taiwan Academic Network (TANet), the vice premier instructed the Ministry of Education (MOE) to gather various user organizations, get to know their current management methods, and ensure that they strictly follow the relevant regulations governing the use of TANet.
The vice premier also asked Minister without Portfolio Tsai Yu-ling to bring together online social group operators for discussion, hear their views, and have them deliberate jointly signing an anti-online-bullying self-regulatory agreement or convention.
With regard to educating the public via enhanced publicity, Chang stressed the importance of cultivating self-respect and respect for others online. Meanwhile, people must be made aware of the channels and means for seeking help and safeguarding their rights and interests when faced with online bullying.
Moreover, the MOE should design simple, lively and easy-to-understand teaching materials for students of different educational levels on virtual-world ethics, moral responsibility and legal liabilities for online bullying as well as how to courageously protect one's rights and interests when faced with such online behavior. The same material can also be used for teaching the general public via various channels.