On Thursday, Taiwan’s Cabinet approved a number of legal drafts strengthening protections against sexual exploitation and sexual assault, while giving victims legal better protection.
Premier Su Tseng-chang said at the Cabinet meeting that the changes would mean authorities can hand out strict punishments for reprehensible crimes that emerge on the internet and in other digital environments.
The new legislation comes after a recent scandal. Late last year, a famous Taiwanese YouTuber was arrested for distributing fake pornographic videos, called deepfakes, featuring female celebrities and politicians.
Cabinet spokesperson Lo Ping-cheng says that the government is committed to stopping sexual violence and protecting vulnerable groups. He says a number of legal acts are in the pipeline, including the Stalking and Harassment Prevention Act, which will come into effect in June this year.
Premier Su says that technology companies also have a responsibility to design services and products in a way that would prevent misuse. He says that in order to have a healthy and safe society, the first thing that needs to change is people’s thinking.