TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Digital Minister Lin Yi-ching (林宜敬) on Thursday criticized the TPP for its response to the ministry's efforts to restore Meta accounts that were mistakenly suspended.
Meta-owned platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Threads, recently suspended thousands of Taiwanese accounts because of errors related to age-verification systems, per Storm Media. Among those affected was former TPP Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), who criticized Meta over the sudden suspensions and subsequent reinstatements, arguing that the company showed little regard for users' rights.
Ko also accused the digital ministry of failing to do enough to assist affected users. He said the public was more concerned with the government's ability to hold Meta accountable than with imposing fines.
Ko argued that the ministry had become little more than Meta's customer service agency.
In response, Lin said the government had contacted Meta executives in the Asia-Pacific region and demanded that the company proactively identify and restore accounts that had been mistakenly suspended, per Mirror Media. He said about 90% of affected accounts had been restored by 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Lin also criticized a TPP proposal to establish a platform for users to report account suspensions. He argued that such a system would effectively turn the government into Meta's customer service department, contradicting the party's criticism of the ministry.
Lin responded by saying the TPP was busy ridiculing the government's response while officials were working to resolve the issue.
TPP Legislative Caucus Convener Chen Ching-lung (陳清龍) rejected Lin's criticism, saying the minister should focus on pressing Meta to establish a transparent appeals process rather than attacking the opposition, per Liberty Times. TPP Legislative Caucus Leader Chen Chih-han (陳智菡) added that DPP Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) had voiced similar complaints about the ministry in 2025, per ETtoday.
During Meta's 2025 crackdown on accounts involved in fraud, many users were caught up in the enforcement effort and had their accounts suspended without warning, per China Times. Kuo criticized the digital ministry, arguing that it had acted more like Meta's switchboard operator than a regulator.
At a legislative committee meeting on the issue, Deputy Digital Minister Yeh Ning (葉寧) said the ministry remained in discussions with Meta regarding six demands it had presented to the company, per Newtalk.
In response, Kuo argued that the ministry had failed to protect users' rights. He said the ministry receives government funding to promote digital industries but lacks the statutory authority necessary to effectively oversee major technology platforms.
