TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan authorities have shown zero tolerance for online posts that cause public alarm and spread misinformation related to Friday’s deadly stabbings in Taipei.
Following the incident by 27-year-old Chang Wen (張文) that left four dead and 10 wounded, police across Taiwan are cracking down on posts spreading fear surrounding the stabbings. In two separate instances, police have made arrests for social media posts.
In one incident, a Kaohsiung college student, surnamed Chen (陳), was arrested and charged with public intimidation and disturbing the peace for sharing a post on Threads, reported UDN. Using a recently registered account, Chen shared a post from another user, who called Chang Wen his “brother” and indicated that a future attack would take place at Kaohsiung Station on Dec. 25.
Although the IP of the original post was traced to Vietnam, police saw probable cause to detain Chen, who claimed he shared the post to “warn” the public. After questioning by the Qiaotou District Prosecutors Office, Chen was charged and released on bail for NT$50,000 (US$1,580).
In a second incident, a 43-year-old man surnamed Chang (張), was arrested by police in Taichung’s Qingshui District. Chang shared a post on Threads claiming to be an accomplice of the perpetrator of Friday’s attack, reported UDN.
In his post, Chang claimed that another mass stabbing attack on the public was planned to be carried out at a station on Taipei MRT’s Bannan Line. Police in Taipei’s Sanxia District tracked down Chang with assistance from the Taichung Police Department.
Chang, who works for a company in the Central Taiwan Science Park, was arrested and charged with endangering public safety and public intimidation. He has reportedly confessed to the crime and said that he made the post as a prank.
Police urge the public not to share unverified information online. They caution that even sharing another user's post may result in charges if the post contains threatening language, is intended to intimidate, or incite fear.
