The MAC spokesman Qiu Chuizheng emphasized yesterday that Douyin is an overseas online platform, and it is not allowed to set up business bases in Taiwan.

(European News Agency file photo)

Gu Lixiong: Douyin collects personal information and hand it over to China, it must be disclosed to let Chinese people understand

[Reporters Chen Yufu, Zhong Lihua, Chen Yun/Report from Taipei] The Chinese short video platform Douyin and TikTok (international version) are involved in the return of user data, and the Ministry of Digital Development has listed them as "products that endanger national information security". Information and communication equipment in the public sector and its use in the field.

As for whether to expand to the private sector?

Both the Executive Yuan and the National Security Council emphasized that they continue to collect information and refer to foreign practices, and have not yet reached a conclusion.

The Mainland Affairs Council spokesman Qiu Chuizheng emphasized yesterday that cross-Strait regulations stipulate that the Chinese online social platform service industry is not allowed to operate related businesses in Taiwan. Douyin is an overseas online platform and is not allowed to set up business bases in Taiwan.

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Douyin affects information security. Premier Su Zhenchang has instructed Political Councilor Luo Bingcheng to convene an inter-ministerial task force; the inter-ministerial task force meeting was originally scheduled to be held on the 14th, but due to data collection, the meeting was postponed.

As for whether the TikTok ban will be extended to the public in the future, Luo Bingcheng said yesterday that it is necessary to refer to the effectiveness of foreign practices and to evaluate the technical feasibility pragmatically, and there is no conclusion.

Qiu Chuizheng said that the cross-border collection of user data by Douyin involves issues such as personal data protection and information security risks. The Executive Yuan has invited relevant agencies to form a task force to discuss and continue to strengthen and review relevant information security management measures to protect public interest.

Pragmatic evaluation of private prohibition related to freedom of speech has not yet concluded

DPP Legislator Huang Shijie questioned the Judiciary and Legal Affairs Committee of the Legislative Yuan yesterday, asking the government to clearly list "products that endanger national information security" for the public to avoid danger. Gu Lixiong, secretary-general of the National Security Council, replied that there is indeed a list, but there is no need to publish it ; As for Douyin, the personal information it collects must be handed over to the Chinese government, which poses security risks and must be disclosed to let the people of the country understand. Private prohibition involves the balance of freedom of speech.

Huang Shijie pointed out that although the government ordered the public sector and related fields to ban Chinese brand products, how do you define "Made in China"?

Some products may be related to China in the production supply chain, but OEM manufacturers may not be Chinese, or the software service platform has many endpoints, which may not be directly related to China. If there is only a vague concept, the implementation will be a bit inconsistent with the legal requirements .

Gu Lixiong said that this is divided into two categories. In the part of entrusted services or procurement cases, the engineering association has explicitly prohibited the use of China-made information and communication products, and the relevant procurement contract templates are also clearly regulated, and must pass relevant audits; Douyin It is another topic, mainly discussing China's cognitive warfare through Douyin, which is easier to deal with when government departments ban it, while the civil society involves the balance of freedom of speech.

Huang Shijie retorted that although the procurement contract is regulated, there is no list, and there is no constant review, so that each agency can determine it independently, and there must be loopholes; Gu said that there is indeed a list, but there is no need to publish it.

Huang then questioned that in this way, civil society or individuals cannot avoid information security risks, and when countries discuss Douyin, the reason for banning Douyin is not just cognitive warfare.