TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — After alleged sex offender Mickey Huang (黃子佼) avoided prosecution, lawmakers and advocates have said Taiwan’s laws are too lenient on child and sexual predators.
In 2023, individuals came forward with allegations of sexual assault and misconduct against TV host Mickey Huang (黃子佼), per CNA. One woman accused Huang of forcibly kissing her and being coerced into taking nude photos at age 17. Later, a search of Huang’s property turned up child pornography, including seven sexually explicit videos of children on his computer.
However, Huang was ultimately not charged with violating the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act (兒童及少年性剝削防制條例). On April 3, Huang was granted a deferred prosecution, enabling him to avoid a criminal record by maintaining “good behavior” for two years. He was then ordered to pay a fine and write an apology letter.
Since the April verdict, outcry has mounted from child and women’s advocates, legislators, and the public over the court's perceived leniency. On April 10, prosecutors applied to the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office to reconsider the case.
On April 12, several Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators held a press conference to review the reasons behind Huang’s verdict. According to the deferred prosecution order, Huang’s actions were considered “a moment of carelessness.” Because the defendant had no previous criminal record, and prosecutors found no evidence of dissemination of the images, “the harm caused is not great,” the judge ruled.
However, DPP Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) said that regardless of the number of images, the impact of child abuse will not be limited to one image. “Every time it is watched and every time it is disseminated, it is causing harm, and it will continue to spread and be difficult to eradicate,” she said.
The Modern Women's Foundation (現代婦女基金會) in a Facebook post called the penalties "truly insignificant for a figure with such social reputation and financial resources.” They said Huang had knowingly purchased the child pornography from a sex crime website forum, in which he was one of 80 VIP members who paid hundreds of U.S. dollars for access to illegal content.
In addition to pornographic images of children, the forum posts videos that were filmed without a victim's knowledge or consent, including in public spaces such as toilets and changing rooms, and revenge porn, such as intimate photos of ex-girlfriends. Furthermore, uploaders often go after a victim's personal information and tag their Facebook or Instagram accounts, which endangers their safety and causes lifelong mental harm, the foundation said.
In response to Huang’s light sentencing, legislators and advocacy groups called for harsher penalties against child and sexual abuse. On Monday (April 29), DPP Legislator Fan Yun (范雲), along with ECPAT Taiwan (台灣展翅協會), Women's Rescue Foundation (婦女救援基金會), and the Garden of Hope Foundation (勵馨基金會), held a news conference at the Legislative Yuan to propose amendments to the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act, per UDN.
First, the law should criminalize those who watch, purchase, or download sexual content featuring children. Second, penalties should be increased for those who distribute the content, as well as the victim's personal information.
Third, the government should have greater authority to shut down websites containing child pornography quickly. Fourth, Fan said perpetrators should receive mandatory rehabilitation of at least eight hours.
Claire Wang (王婉諭), chair of Taiwan's New Power Party, called on the government to establish a dedicated unit for countering digital sex crimes, which she said are becoming rampant. She pointed out that a victim's biggest fear is that their images will continue to resurrect and spread online.
“We need professionals up to date with the digital age to make sure the videos will be completely taken down, and a system to help the victims, including children, cope with their fear,” she said.
Taiwan in 2023 made possession of child pornography a criminal offense, subject to a maximum of one year in prison and a fine of NT$30,000 (US$920) to NT$300,000. However, advocates noted that penalties are still much lower than in other countries, as perpetrators in the U.S. can face up to 10 years in prison, with an average sentence of six years and three months.
Furthermore, data from the U.S. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a cause for concern, as reports of child pornography linked to Taiwanese IP addresses doubled from 33,621 in 2019 to 72,902 in 2022.
The Women's Rescue Foundation (婦女救援基金會) said in a statement that purchasers of illegal sexual images should be jointly liable, since when there is demand, there is supply. The buyers are fueling an industry that sexually abuses children to create images for large profits, and therefore, it is not enough to only punish the producers.
In addition, raising awareness about the dangers of sharing images online, and increasing understanding and empathy for victims of sexual harassment and abuse can help prevent and reduce further harm, they added.
If you believe you are the victim of sexual harassment or abuse, the following organizations can provide consultation and support:
- Garden of Hope Foundation (勵馨基金會) Dial: 02-8911-5595
- Modern Women’s Foundation (現代婦女基金會) Dial: 02-2391-7133
- Women's Rescue Foundation (婦女救援基金會) Dial: 02-2555-8595
