DPP lawmaker files suit against TPP chair over alleged paparazzi network

Taipei, Oct. 3 (CNA) Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wang Yi-chuan (王義川) filed a criminal complaint on Friday against Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) and six others, alleging they organized a paparazzi network that followed political figures.

Wang submitted the complaint to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, naming Huang, Kai-ssu International head Lee Li-chuan (李麗娟), former Central News Agency (CNA) reporter Hsieh Hsing-en (謝幸恩), and four suspected paparazzi.

Wang alleged violations of the National Security Act, Personal Data Protection Act, Social Order Maintenance Act, and invasion of privacy statutes.

The case follows a Mirror Daily report last month alleging Huang established and directed a paparazzi group that tracked DPP politicians.

According to Mirror Daily, Wang filed a complaint after Kuomintang (KMT) lawmaker Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) posted Facebook photos accusing him of running red lights twice last June -- an allegation Wang later acknowledged.

Suspecting he was being surveilled by paparazzi, Wang, who did not hold public office at the time, said the incident left him "fearful and in the dark."

Although he reported the case to police at the time, the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office issued a non-prosecution notice in late August, stating that the media tailing posed no threat to public security.

However, the notice revealed that four people rented a car and claimed to be media staff employed by Kai-ssu International, a company Mirror Daily alleges is linked to Huang.

On Friday, Wang's attorney argued that indiscriminate political surveillance without evidence of wrongdoing violates privacy laws. He claimed the group's funding could also involve foreign capital, potentially breaching national security regulations punishable by up to seven years in prison.

The controversy also impacted CNA, Taiwan's state-affiliated news agency, which filed separate criminal and civil complaints against Hsieh for breach of trust, ethical violations and reputational damage.

In response, Huang dismissed Wang's complaint as a "frivolous lawsuit" from the DPP, saying previous cases against him were unsuccessful.

"Wang Yi-chuan ran a red light -- that is an objective fact. If he wants that certified again in court, that's up to him," Huang said.