Why Taiwan’s Big Brother moves are of concern to us all

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A source code is displayed on a computer in Taipei. As governments seek to boost cyber-security, state surveillance of private data online has become a concern around the world. Photo: EPA

Published: 2:00pm, 16 Sep 2018Updated: 2:00pm, 16 Sep 2018

I refer to the article, “Is Taiwan becoming a surveillance state? Privacy advocates sound alarm”(September 9). Privacy is slowly becoming a controversial issue worldwide along with the inexorable advance of technology.

In the drive to protect digital and personal security, people have no privacy any more. As the report said, Big Brother is everywhere.

The government says it needs our personal information for safety reasons. However, being under surveillance online is a bigger cause for concern, as people indulge in the freedom to say whatever they want on the internet and especially on social media.

It is worrying to learn that the Taiwanese police is planning to spend US$16.2 million on developing a special app to enhance its power to monitor digital communications and that, according to former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden’s book, Taiwan had accepted US$200,000 from Washington in 2012 to buy and develop advanced surveillance technologies able to tap private communications. This raises fears about thought policing and the violation of digital human rights.

South Korean actor Gong Yoo (left) takes a selfie with a fan at the launch of a smartphone, in Taipei on August 17, 2017. As people share more of their lives online, the need to protect digital human rights becomes more pressing. Photo: EPA

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