Cyberbullying Case in Taiwan: Woman Faces Consequences for Online Harassment

A Taiwanese woman received a suspended sentence after posting defamatory content about her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend on social media.

A case of cyberbullying in Taiwan has resulted in a suspended prison sentence for a woman named Xiaoyun (alias) who targeted her boyfriend's former girlfriend, Ms. A. Between December 2023 and March 2024, Xiaoyun posted 48 articles across various social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, mocking Ms. A's physical appearance and even impersonating her to solicit financial support. This led to legal action.

The judgment, delivered by the Taitung District Court, revealed that Xiaoyun's actions stemmed from a dispute. She not only shared Ms. A’s photos, social media accounts, and phone number but also published content such as, "The state should use your skin to study bulletproof vests" and "Don't think you can hide your ignorance just because you're black." Additionally, Xiaoyun pretended to be Ms. A in a post seeking financial support.

Ms. A discovered the posts and reported the incidents, leading to a lawsuit. Initially, Xiaoyun denied the allegations, admitting to only posting four articles and claiming the accompanying images were screenshots from Douyin (TikTok). However, she later confessed to the crime.

During the investigation, Xiaoyun's boyfriend explained that he had asked her to contact Ms. A regarding a financial dispute, which subsequently led to the online harassment and the legal proceedings.

The court found Xiaoyun guilty of defamation, publicizing private information and unauthorized use of personal data. The court considered that she infringed upon Ms. A's personality, reputation, privacy, and social standing. Considering Xiaoyun’s remorse, her agreement to pay Ms. A 100,000 New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) in compensation, and the fact that she admitted to the crime, the court sentenced her to seven months in prison, suspended for two years. The case is subject to appeal.