TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's digital minister unveiled sweeping changes to the island's cybersecurity laws on Thursday (April 24), signaling an urgent response to escalating digital threats targeting the tech-dependent democracy. The proposed amendment to the "Cyber Security Management Act" (資通安全管理法) aims to fortify Taiwan's digital defenses through enhanced government coordination and broader regional protection mechanisms that would strengthen resilience across both government agencies and critical private industries.
The proposal underwent scrutiny in the Legislative Yuan's "Transportation Committee" (立法院交通委員會, Taiwan's parliamentary committee overseeing transportation and communications), where legisators pointed to recent domestic breaches as evidence of the current framework's shortcomings. The Executive Yuan (行政院), Taiwan's cabinet, had previously approved the draft amendment last year, expanding cybersecurity audit requirements to previously exempt institutions, including the Presidential Office (總統府), while also establishing new regulatory powers over technology products deemed national security risks.
Digital Minister Yennun Huang (黃彥男) emphasized that Taiwan's cybersecurity legislation has remained static since 2018 despite the rapidly evolving global threat landscape. Government agencies and critical infrastructure operators now face sophisticated attacks with increasing frequency, according to Huang. The urgency for reform gained momentum after President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) called a high-level national security meeting on March 13, where officials identified five categories of security and united front threats requiring immediate legislative countermeasures.
Minister Huang projected optimism about the amendment's impact, stating that the legislative overhaul would significantly strengthen Taiwan's digital infrastructure against evolving threats. The revised framework aims to create a more resilient cybersecurity ecosystem spanning both public institutions and private enterprises, establishing more robust defenses against increasingly sophisticated attack methods targeting the island's critical systems. ★
