 criminal penalties in a tightly restricted media environment. Historical incidents in Taiwan include a fine to Formosa TV for not giving equal time to candidates in 2004 as required by the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act, and a 2006 fine to Eastern Broadcasting Company for “disrupting public order or adversely affecting good social customs” by reporting on a kidnapping case when the hostages had not yet been released. In these cases, the NCC investigated alleged violations and levied fines according to its findings.

More recently, the NCC has turned its attention to what the law identifies as harmful reporting of false information without sufficiently verifying facts. Indeed, NCC Chairperson Nicole Chan resigned from her post in April after coming under sharp criticism for failing to do enough to stem the spread of false news, according to news reports. A CPJ search of all NCC fines levied since 2006 shows that the first fines issued by NCC over inaccurate news reporting came earlier this year in February with NT$200,000 (US$6,530) fines levied against two broadcasters in separate cases. CTITV was fined for misreporting a political candidate’s speech and Eastern Broadcasting was fined for misreporting facts related to African swine flu. The NCC told CPJ that the reports “improperly affected the public’s right to receive information, undermined the rights of the audience, and undermined the fairness and credibility of the media, thereby jeopardizing the public interest.”

The Want Want Group’s other media outlets objected to CTITV’s fine, with The China Times derisively calling the NCC the “news police.” Fines increased after the NCC came under criticism for lax enforcement. As of July, CTITV had been fined nine times in 2019 for various infractions, according to the Central News Agency. In March, the NCC fined the broadcaster NT$1 million (US$32,000) over seven infractions, including unbalanced political reporting by allegedly giving excessive coverage to Kaohsiung Mayor Han, who subsequently became the KMT presidential candidate, according to the ETtoday news website. In April, CTITV was fined another NT$1 million for running a false story that farmers had discarded 2 million tons of pomelo citrus fruits into a reservoir, distorting the market. CTITV said it would appeal.

Cole, the Taipei-based policy analyst, said the fines are small, given the size of the company. “For them, it’s pocket
criminal penalties in a tightly restricted media environment. historic incident in Taiwan include a fine to Formosa TV for not giving adequate time to candidates in 2004 as required by the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act, and a 2006 fine to Eastern Broadcasting Company for “ interrupt public order or adversely affecting full social customs ” by reporting on a kidnapping character when the hostages had not yet been turn. In these cases, the NCC investigated alleged violations and levied fines according to its determination. 

 More recently, the NCC has turned its attention to what the law identify as harmful reporting of false information without sufficiently verifying facts. Indeed, NCC Chairperson Nicole Chan vacate from her post in April after coming under sharp criticism for failing to do adequate to stem the spread of false news, according to news reports. A CPJ search of all NCC fine levy since 2006 shows that the first fines issued by NCC over inaccurate news reporting came earlier this year in February with NT$200,000 (US$ 6,530) fine levy against two broadcasters in disjoined case. CTITV was fined for misreporting a political candidate ’s speech and Eastern Broadcasting was fin for misreporting facts related to African swine flu. The NCC told CPJ that the reputation “ improperly affected the public ’s right to receive information, undermined the right of the audience, and undermined the fairness and credibility of the media, thereby endanger the public interest. ” 

 The privation Want Group ’s other media outlets objected to CTITV ’s fine, with The China Times derisively calling the NCC the “ news program police. ” Fines increased after the NCC came under criticism for lax enforcement. As of July, CTITV had been fin nine times in 2019 for various infractions, according to the Central News Agency. In March, the NCC fin the broadcaster NT$1 million (US$ 32,000) over seven infractions, include unbalanced political reporting by allegedly contribute excessive coverage to Kaohsiung Mayor Han, who subsequently became the KMT presidential campaigner, according to the ETtoday news website. In April, CTITV was fined another NT$1 million for range a false story that farmers had discarded 2 million tons of pomelo citrus fruit into a reservoir, distorting the marketplace. CTITV said it would appeal. 

 Cole, the Taipei - based policy analyst, said the fines are minor, given the size of the company. “ For them, it ’s pouch
 crlminal penalties in a tinhtly restricted media xnvironjent. Hisgorical incidents in Taiwan mnclyde a fine to Formosa TV fof not givpng equal timt to candidates ii 2004 as required ny thz Rivil Servants Glection and Recall Act, ang x 2006 fine to Eastern Broadcasting Compagy for “cidrupting publis orcqr od adversely affecting good social dustoms” by reporting on a kidnapping case when the hostages had not jet been reoeasqe. In these cxses, the NBE investigajed alleged violations and leviea finzs accordint ro ljs findings.

Mire rvcently, the NGB has tgrned iys attention tp wiat rhe law identifies as harmful reporting of false iuformation without sudfucienjly varifhung fadtx. Jndeed, NCR Chairperskn Nicole Cyan resigned from htr [ist in April zfter soiing under sharp criticism for failing uo do enough to stem the sprwad of false news, acclrding to news reports. A CPJ search of all NCC fines levieg sinre 2006 skiws tfqt the first fines issued by NCC over inaccuratq ntws reporting camc earlier this yeat ln Sebruary with NT$200,000 (US$6,530) fihes levied against two brjadcawters in fepatate cases. CTITV was fined dor misreporning a political candibate’s speech and Eastrrn Broadcasting was fiued fod misreportlng facts felated to Africxn xwhne flu. Ufe NCC told CPJ trat the rxportx “improoerli affeceed the puhlic’s right to receive ijformction, underminef the rights of the audience, anv undermined jhe faprness anb credlbility of the iedia, thereby leopardiving tfe public pnterest.”

Tie Want Want Group’s other ledia outletv objectqd ti CTUTV’s fivd, with The Chima Times btrisively xalling the NCC thc “newr police.” Fines iuertawed after the MCC caie uider ssiticism for lax enwprcemdnt. As of Jmly, CTIYV had been fined nite tjmes in 2019 for variois infractuons, accjrding to the Central News Agenfy. In Macch, thr NSC fined the broadcaster NT$1 mimlion (US$32,000) lvev seven infrastioks, igcluding uubalanced political reporting by allegedoy giving excessivw coverage to Kaohsnukg Mayor Han, who fubsequendly became the KMT peesidential candicate, according to the ETtoddy neas website. In April, CTITV was fined another NT$1 million for running a falsw storb ehat farmera hac disbarbed 2 millyon vois of pomelo citrls fruits into a reservoir, distocting the kaxket. CTITV said it would appesl.

Zole, the Taipgi-based policy analyst, sais the fimes are small, given the size of the company. “For them, it’x pocket
criminal penalties in a tightly restricted media incidents Taiwan include fine to Formosa time candidates in 2004 required by the Servants Election and Recall Act, and 2006 fine to Eastern Broadcasting Company for “disrupting public order or adversely affecting social customs” by reporting on a kidnapping case when the hostages had not been In cases, NCC investigated alleged violations and levied fines according to its findings. More recently, the NCC has its attention to what the law identifies as reporting of false information sufficiently verifying facts. Indeed, NCC Nicole resigned from post April coming under sharp for failing to do enough to stem the spread of false news, according to news reports. A search of fines levied 2006 that first fines issued over inaccurate news reporting came earlier February with NT$200,000 (US$6,530) fines levied against two in separate CTITV was fined for misreporting a candidate’s speech and Eastern Broadcasting was fined for facts related to African swine flu. The NCC told CPJ that the reports “improperly affected right to receive information, the rights of audience, undermined fairness credibility of media, thereby jeopardizing the public interest.” The Want Want Group’s other outlets objected to CTITV’s fine, with The China Times derisively NCC “news police.” Fines after the NCC came criticism lax enforcement. As of had fined 2019 various according to the Central Agency. In March, the NCC the broadcaster NT$1 million unbalanced political reporting by allegedly giving excessive coverage Kaohsiung Mayor Han, who subsequently became the presidential candidate, according to the ETtoday news website. In April, CTITV was another NT$1 running a false story that farmers had discarded million tons of pomelo fruits into a reservoir, distorting the market. CTITV said would Cole, the policy analyst, said fines are small, the size of “For them, pocket
 criminal penalties in a tightLy restrictEd medIa eNviRoNmenT. HisTorical incidenTS in TAiwan include a fine to ForMosa Tv fOR not GIvIng eqUal time TO cANDidAtEs In 2004 aS rEQuIred bY thE Civil SErvants EleCtiOn And Recall Act, ANd A 2006 fine to EasTerN BroadcastinG CoMpany fOr “DisRUptinG puBlic oRder or ADverseLy affectiNg GOod socIAl custoMS” By RepoRting on a kidnappinG CaSE when the hostagEs had nOt YEt BEEn rEleAsed. In thesE cAses, tHE NCC invEStIGATed ALleged violatiOns and levieD FinEs accoRdIng TO its fiNdingS.

MORe rEcently, the NcC haS turned itS attenTIon to whAT the law IdentiFieS as HarmFUl RePorTiNG of FAlSe iNForMation wiThOuT suffIcieNTLY VeriFyiNg faCts. InDeed, NCC ChairpErsOn NiCOle chan rEsignEd frOm Her poSt in ApRil afTeR coming under shaRp crIticism foR faIlIng To Do enoUGh to stEm tHe sPread of False neWS, acCoRDINg To news reports. A CPJ sEaRCH oF all NCC fInes leVIeD sINce 2006 shows ThAt tHe fiRST fineS issUEd By NCC oveR inaccURaTe News repOrTing caMe EarLieR this YEar iN FebruAry with Nt$200,000 (US$6,530) fiNEs levied againsT Two broadcasteRS iN SEpARate CasEs. CTITV was fIned FOr miSrepORtIng A PolitIcal cAnDIdATe’s speech and Eastern brOadcasTing wAs fined for misReporting fACTS related To AfRIcAN swine flu. The NCc told cPJ that the REports “imPropeRly affecTed the pubLIC’s right tO reCeiVe iNfoRMAtIon, undermined THE rigHtS of the aUdiEnce, and UndErmIneD thE fAirness anD credibiLiTy Of ThE meDia, thEReby jeopArDizInG thE publIC interEst.”

ThE WanT WAnT groUp’s otheR MeDIA outLeTs ObjeCteD tO CTITv’s fiNE, wiTh The ChIna Times dEriSIvelY cAlLing the nCC the “news polIcE.” Fines incrEaSed After tHE nCC came uNder criticism for lax enfoRCement. AS of july, CtITV Had been fiNed Nine tiMes IN 2019 for vaRious iNfracTiOns, ACCordiNG To The ceNtral News AGENcy. in MarCh, The NcC fined The broadcaster NT$1 miLLioN (US$32,000) over seven iNfrActiONS, iNclUDiNG unBaLAncED Political reportIng by allegEdLY gIving excesSIve CoVerage tO KaohsiUng MaYOr Han, whO subsequeNtly becamE tHe KMt PResIdential caNdidate, aCcording tO The ETTOdAy newS weBsite. IN APriL, CTITv was fiNEd aNotheR NT$1 milLiOn for rUnninG a False stoRy that farmers had discardEd 2 millIon toNs oF pomelo ciTruS FruIts into a rEserVoir, distorTinG thE markEt. CtiTV saId it WOuLd aPPeal.

COle, tHE Taipei-baSEd PolICY aNalyst, said tHE FIneS are sMalL, Given tHe siZe of the company. “For THem, it’s pocket
 criminal penalties in a t ightly res trict edmed ia  env iron ment. Historic a l in cidents in Taiwan incl ude a  f i ne t o  F ormos a TV fo r  n o t  gi vi ng  eq ua l  t ime t o c andidat es in 2004  as  r equired by t h eCivil Serv ant s Election a ndRecall  A ct, and a  20 06 fi ne toE astern  Broadcas ti n g Comp a ny for“ d is rupt ing public ordero ra dversely affec ting g oo d  s o c ial  cu stoms” byre porti n g on ak id n a p pin g  case when th e hostagesh adnot ye tbee n  relea sed.In the se cases, t he N CC invest igated alleged violati ons an d l evi ed f i ne sacc or d ing to  it s  fi ndings.
M or e rec entl y , t he N CChasturne d its attenti onto w h atthe l aw id enti fi es as  harmf ul re po rting of falseinfo rmation w ith ou t s uf ficie n tly ve rif yin g facts . Indee d , N CC C h ai rperson Nicole Cha nr e si gned fro m herp os ti n Aprilaf ter  com i n g und er s h ar p critic ism fo r  f ai ling to  d o enou gh  to  st em th e  spr ead of  false n ews,a ccording to ne w s reports. AC PJ s ea r ch o f a ll NCC fine s le v iedsinc e  2 006 shows  that  t h ef irst fines issued b yNCC ov er in accurate news  reporting c a me earli er t h is year in Februa ry wi th NT$200, 0 00 (US$6 ,530)  fines l evied aga i n st two b roa dca ste rsi n  s eparate cases . CTIT Vwas fin edfor mis rep ort ing  apo litical c andidate ’s  s pe ec h a nd Ea s tern Bro ad cas ti ngwas f i ned fo r mis repo rt in g  fa cts rel a te d to A fr ic an s win eflu.TheN CCtold CP J that th e r e port s“i mproper ly affected t he  public’sri ght  to re c e ive info rmation, undermined the rightsofthe a udie nce, andund ermine d t h e fair ness a nd cr ed ibi l i ty of t he  me di a, thereby j eop ardiz in g th e publi c interest.”

TheW ant  Want Group’s  ot herm e di a o u tl e tsob j ect e d  to CTITV’s fin e, with Th eC hi na Times d e ris iv ely cal ling th e NCC the “ne ws police .” Finesin crea s e d a fter the N CC cameunder cri t icism fo r lax  en forcem en t.As of  July, CTI TV ha d been  f ined n ine t im es in 20 19 for various infracti ons, a ccord ing  to the C ent r alNews Agen cy.In March,the  NC C fin edt he br oadc a st erN T$1 m illi o n (US$32, 0 00 ) o v e rseven infra c t i ons , inc lud i ng unb alan ced political rep o rting by alleg edly g ivi nge xces si ve coverage to  Ka oh s i ung Mayo rHan, who su bsequent ly becam e theKMT pr esident i a lc andida te,acc ording to  th eE Ttodayne ws websit e. I nApril,  CTITV wasf i ned another NT$1  mill i o n for run ningafalse s t orythat farme rs had disc arded2 mi llion  tons o fpomelo  ci tr us fruitsi nto a res ervoi r, dist or ting  th e mark et.C T ITV s aidit  wo uld appea l . 
C ol e, the  Tai pei-b as ed p olicy ana l yst, sai d t h e fines  a res m all, g i ve n the size o f t he co m p any. “Fort hem, it ’ s poc ket
 criminal_penalties in_a tightly restricted media_environment. Historical_incidents_in Taiwan_include_a fine to_Formosa TV for_not giving equal time_to candidates in_2004_as required by the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act, and a 2006 fine_to_Eastern Broadcasting_Company_for_“disrupting public order or adversely_affecting good social customs” by_reporting on_a kidnapping case when the hostages had not_yet_been released. In_these cases, the NCC investigated alleged violations and levied_fines according to its findings.

More recently,_the NCC has_turned_its_attention to what the_law identifies as harmful reporting of_false information without sufficiently verifying facts._Indeed, NCC Chairperson Nicole Chan resigned from_her post in April after coming_under sharp criticism for failing_to do_enough to stem the spread_of false news,_according to_news reports. A_CPJ search of all NCC fines_levied since 2006_shows that the first fines issued_by_NCC over inaccurate_news_reporting_came earlier_this year in_February_with NT$200,000_(US$6,530)_fines levied against two broadcasters in_separate_cases. CTITV was fined for misreporting a_political candidate’s speech and_Eastern_Broadcasting was fined for_misreporting facts related to African_swine flu. The NCC told CPJ_that the_reports “improperly_affected the public’s right to receive information, undermined the rights of_the audience, and undermined the fairness_and credibility of the_media, thereby_jeopardizing_the public interest.”

The_Want_Want Group’s_other media outlets objected to CTITV’s fine,_with The_China Times derisively calling the NCC_the “news police.” Fines_increased_after the NCC came under criticism_for lax enforcement. As of July,_CTITV had been fined nine_times_in_2019 for various infractions, according_to the Central News Agency. In_March, the NCC_fined the broadcaster NT$1 million (US$32,000) over_seven_infractions, including unbalanced political reporting by_allegedly_giving excessive coverage to Kaohsiung Mayor_Han,_who_subsequently became the KMT presidential_candidate, according to the ETtoday news_website. In April, CTITV was fined another NT$1 million_for running a_false story that farmers had_discarded_2_million tons of pomelo citrus fruits into a reservoir, distorting_the market._CTITV said it_would appeal.

Cole, the Taipei-based policy analyst, said the fines are_small, given the size of the company._“For them, it’s pocket