TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Multiple media outlets on Monday alleged Taiwan People's Party Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) led a paparazzi scheme that secretly followed and photographed politicians, per Liberty Times.

The news sparked widespread criticism, with political pundit Wang Hao (汪浩) accusing Huang of actions similar to the illegal surveillance of political opponents carried out under the authoritarian rule of Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國).

Wang condemned the actions and called for legal action regarding Huang's illegal filming. He said a democratic Taiwan has no place for "KMT-type paparazzi politics," lest it return to the shadow of the White Terror.

Wang referred to a Mirror Daily report, which claimed Huang employed a half-dozen paparazzi and journalists through funding by the Taiwan Anti-corruption & Whistleblower Protection Association and Kai-ssu International (凱思國際).

Huang is alleged to have presided over meetings at his office on Anhe Road, directing the secret filming of Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), Pan Men-an (潘孟安), Wang Yi-chuan (王義川), and others. Huang is also accused of using KMT legislators such as Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) and Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) to spread rumors and false reports.

Huang stands accused of using the paparazzi to intimidate politicians and engaging in political infighting rather than “exposing corruption.” Wang said in legal terms, media surveillance and political surveillance fall under the Personal Information Protection Act and the Act of Hindering Secrets, carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Huang denied directing the paparazzi ring in a statement on Monday. A related media organization, RW News, formed in 2021 and closely tied to Huang, regularly published reporting carried out by TAWPA, said it upheld journalistic principles and was not motivated by politics, per Liberty Times.

However, RW News's majority shareholder, Taiwan Steel Group, held an emergency meeting on Monday, deciding to immediately cease publishing.

A Central News Agency reporter, Hsieh Hsing-en (謝幸恩), thought to be a member of the paparazzi ring, submitted her resignation to CNA and has chosen not to respond to the allegations.