TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taipei City Construction Management Office (建管處), the municipal agency overseeing building code enforcement in Taiwan's capital, approved Tuesday (May 13) significant revisions to existing regulations combating illicit surveillance devices in public venues. Municipal authorities intend to activate the enhanced privacy protection measures before June, addressing growing concerns about surreptitious recording in public spaces throughout the city.
These regulatory modifications substantially broaden both detection protocols and enforcement jurisdiction for anti-surveillance efforts. The updated framework establishes mandatory police notification procedures when covert recording devices are identified in public facilities. Officials noted that these amendments represent the first major overhaul of the city's anti-hidden camera provisions since their initial adoption in July 2002, concluding more than two decades of operating under provisional guidelines.
City officials ratified the new provisions during a recent administrative session, explicitly designating oversight responsibilities to multiple municipal departments including the Taipei City Department of Education (台北市教育局), the Department of Health (衛生局), and the Department of Social Welfare (社會局). The revisions impose stringent monthly inspection requirements on operators of public facilities, mandating regular sweeps of vulnerable areas such as restrooms, bathrooms, and changing rooms where privacy violations most commonly occur.
Under the new regulatory framework, the Taipei City Police Department (警察局) assumes responsibility for developing standardized documentation protocols for surveillance device inspections. The amendments grant supervisory agencies authority to mandate more frequent examinations in high-risk locations. Facility operators who neglect compliance obligations face administrative intervention from relevant municipal departments. The regulations reinforce mandatory reporting requirements when surveillance devices are discovered that potentially violate Taiwan's privacy protection statutes.
Municipal officials acknowledge the extensive impact these regulatory changes will have on facility operators throughout Taipei. Recognizing the operational adjustments required for compliance, the Construction Management Office has incorporated a three-month transition period following the official implementation date. This grace period allows affected businesses and institutions to develop appropriate inspection protocols and train personnel on proper documentation procedures before facing potential administrative consequences. ★
