Taiwan Engineer Sentenced in "Taiwanese Nth Room" Case Involving Child Sexual Exploitation

A Taichung engineer, Zhao, developed a system to distribute child sexual abuse material on Telegram, resulting in a 7.5-year prison sentence and the disclosure of 56 buyers.

A shocking case in Taiwan has led to a significant prison sentence for a Taichung-based engineer, Zhao, who created a platform similar to South Korea's "Nth Room," facilitating the distribution of child sexual abuse material. Zhao developed a system, integrated with the Telegram app, that enabled users to purchase and download explicit videos featuring minors.

According to reports, Zhao marketed his system through a Telegram group called "羊傳媒 (Yang Media)," offering access to both adult and child sexual exploitation content. Transactions were facilitated through third-party payment platforms, with individual videos priced between NT$150 and NT$1100. Investigations revealed that 56 individuals were involved in purchasing these videos.

Authorities, following an investigation, raided Zhao's residence in 2023, seizing computers, storage devices, and other evidence. Zhao admitted to the charges during the trial. The court, however, noted that one of the buyers had made a purchase after Zhao was already in custody, and that case was dismissed.

The Taichung District Court found Zhao guilty on 55 counts of violating the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act, resulting in a combined sentence of 7 years and 6 months in prison. The court emphasized the gravity of the offense, noting the potential for exploitation and harm to children. Zhao's sentence reflects the severity with which Taiwan's justice system views such crimes.