KMT lawmaker calls amendment ‘cyber martial law’NO WAR ADVOCACY The amendment would fine violators who called for invasion of Taiwan by foreign powers, but KMT lawmakers are calling it censorshipBy Lee Wen-hsin / Staff reporterOpposition lawmakers have called the a legal bill proposed by the Cabinet to impose administrative fines of up to NT$1 million (US$31,279) for advocating war-related rhetoric as a form of internet censorship. Academics attend a hearing on a proposed amendment to the National Security Act at the legislature in Taipei on Thursday. Chang said that President William Lai (賴清德) could seize broad powers of censorship over public speech, posing a serious threat to the public’s right to freedom of expression. When a speech is unfavorable to the ruling party, the agencies could easily label it as “misinformation,” Chang said, adding that it would be a form of disguised “cyber martial law,” forcing people to remain silent and trigger a chilling effect. By going through the drafted amendments in detail and listening to feedback, the DPP plans incorporate these insights in the next review to ensure a balance is reached between protecting “national security” and “fundamental freedoms,” he said.

Source: Taipei Times March 22, 2026 16:38 UTC