The Chairperson of Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (NCC) says government plans to restructure his organization would grant it four key powers. Chairperson Chen Yaw-shyang was speaking at the Legislature on Thursday.
Taiwanese lawmakers are currently examining plans by the government to create a new Ministry of Digital Development. The new government department would assume several key responsibilities currently held by other ministries and organizations, including the NCC.
A recent amendment to the proposals would grant the NCC powers to handle online content. That has prompted fears that the government will practice internet censorship.
Chen dismissed those concerns on Thursday, saying that the NCC will not control the entire internet. He says the proposals would give the commission four key powers. First, the NCC would become the point of contact for people wishing to take legal action over internet content. Second, the commission would be responsible for coordinating with other government departments in case of a suspected crime. Third, the NCC would take the lead on cooperating with other nations if the content owner operates from abroad. And finally, the commission would be able to control the spread of internet content on TV and radio.
Chen says social media giants like Facebook and Google will be asked to sign up to a self-regulatory framework. He says that they will be held responsible for controlling inappropriate content.