TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese prosecutors and police have dismantled operations linked to the adult website 5F, accused of repeatedly uploading illegal sexual content involving minors despite receiving hundreds of government takedown orders.
The Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office in Kaohsiung said Monday it discovered the site’s activities last year while investigating several cases involving leaked sexual images of minors. The Ministry of Health and Welfare had issued more than 300 removal notices, but the site allegedly continued distributing prohibited material, including nonconsensual adult recordings, per CNA.
Police searches on Aug. 5 at multiple locations connected to the website uncovered over NT$850,000 (US$28,373) in cash, thousands of cryptocurrency units, and more than NT$5.5 million from a company account linked to its operations.
Three people were taken into custody: the company’s legal representative, surnamed Lee (李); a manager, surnamed Wu (吳); and an advertising agent, surnamed Lai (賴). Several witnesses were also summoned for questioning.
Prosecutors allege the trio profited from providing users access to leaked sexual videos of adults and minors without consent, in violation of the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act, laws against nonconsensual sexual imagery, and public indecency regulations.
After interrogation, prosecutors argued the suspects posed a high risk of flight, collusion, or evidence tampering, and successfully petitioned the Ciaotou District Court to detain them incommunicado. Authorities ordered the website’s immediate shutdown and are working to block access and expand the investigation to prevent further harm to minors.
Ciaotou District Chief Prosecutor Chang Chun-hui (張春暉) emphasized that the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act criminalizes the reproduction, possession for payment, or viewing of sexual images of minors without legitimate cause. Offenders who download, purchase, view, or distribute such material for profit face prison sentences of one to seven years.
