TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei officials tested a cell broadcast alert system Friday (Dec. 26) during a security drill, raising privacy concerns about government surveillance capabilities. The system sent evacuation messages to mobile phones within a 0.5-kilometer (0.3-mile) radius of City Hall Bus Terminal (市府轉運站). The test occurred one week after a deadly, indiscriminate attack in Taiwan's capital, prompting questions about location-tracking technology.
The test marks the first time Taiwan has used cell broadcast technology during a security drill. The message, labeled as a drill, instructed recipients to remain calm, follow on-site guidance and evacuate to safe areas after a significant incident at City Hall Metro Station (市政府站). Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the system successfully delivered the alert approximately 15 minutes before the 1 p.m. exercise began. Officials did not disclose how many people received the alert or provide technical details about the location-targeting mechanism.
The drill revives concerns about government mobile phone tracking following a May 2024 controversy. The Democratic Progressive Party (民進黨), Taiwan's ruling party, has been accused of conducting illegal surveillance after its official, Wang Yi-chuan (王義川), claimed that his party analyzed protest participants' ages using mobile phone location data. Prosecutors in Taipei opened an investigation into potential violations of Taiwan's Communication Security and Surveillance Act (通訊保障及監察法).
Chiang emphasized the city will maintain heightened security through New Year's Eve celebrations and Lunar New Year markets. The Fire Department (消防局) submitted a disaster alert cell broadcast plan to the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (國家災害防救科技中心) on Dec. 24. Chiang instructed officials to clearly label the message as a test to avoid causing panic. It remains unclear what privacy protections exist for recipients' location data or whether the system stores information about who received alerts.
