Digital Industry Administration Prevents Illegal Online Sales, Cross-Ministerial Review of 2 Types of Restricted Lists
Taiwan's Digital Industry Administration, in collaboration with 21 government agencies, has formulated two major lists of restricted goods to prevent illegal online sales, marking the largest such effort to date. C2C platforms like Shopee and Yahoo Auctions are mandated to strengthen patrols and management. Prompted by a murder case last year, AI technology will also be utilized to create a safer online transaction environment.
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- 📰 Published: May 3, 2026 at 12:39
- 🔍 Collected: May 3, 2026 at 13:01 (21 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 3, 2026 at 13:04 (2 min after Collected)
Central News Agency (CNA) reported from Taipei on May 3 by reporter Zhao Min-Ya: To strengthen e-commerce platforms' management of illegal goods, Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs' Digital Industry Administration (數發部數產署) announced that it convened 21 relevant units, including the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, early this year to inventory two major categories of goods that are either prohibited or require permits for online sale. This effort is the largest in history. The administration demands C2C (consumer-to-consumer) platforms such as Shopee and Yahoo Auctions to implement thorough inspections to prevent illicit transactions.
The Ministry of Digital Affairs established the "Network Platform Listing or Sale of Illegal Goods Joint Prevention Platform" at the end of 2024. It regularly invites representatives from relevant ministries, e-commerce associations, e-commerce platforms, and regulated online advertising platform operators to hold meetings. According to Shi Wei-Ren, head of the Platform Economy Group at the Digital Industry Administration, seven such joint prevention meetings have been held to date, accumulating over 50 handled proposals. These include assisting various ministries and industry players in establishing real-time reporting channels for the delisting of contraband items such as etizolam, Chuan Yun Jian, and e-cigarettes.
A random murder case occurred in Taipei late last year. Police investigations revealed that the suspect, Zhang Wen, obtained most of the equipment and tools used in the crime through online shopping platforms. In response, the Digital Industry Administration convened relevant ministries again early this year to hold a "E-commerce Platform Prohibited or High-Risk Goods Management Consultation Meeting," which saw the largest participation in history.
Shi Wei-Ren pointed out that a total of 21 relevant units participated, including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Financial Supervisory Commission, and National Communications Commission (NCC). They jointly confirmed two major categories of goods: those prohibited from sale and those that require a permit for sale.
Regarding e-commerce, Yang Ming-Ze, section chief of Platform Application, Platform Economy Group at the Digital Industry Administration, added that the focus is primarily on C2C (consumer-to-consumer) platforms because individual sellers are often less familiar with regulations. Therefore, the efforts are concentrated on the four major C2C e-commerce platforms: Shopee, Ruten, Yahoo, and Carousell, to strengthen the management of illegal goods.
Shi Wei-Ren explained that an e-commerce platform product management mechanism has been established, divided into "prohibited sales" and "restricted sales requiring a permit." Prohibited sales refer to goods that are legally forbidden from manufacturing, import, or sale, such as tobacco products, controlled drugs, counterfeits, vehicle license plates, narcotics, firearms, ammunition, explosives, and knives. Restricted sales requiring a permit refer to goods that require approval from the competent authority before they can be sold, such as telecommunications controlled radio frequency equipment, approved medicines, medical devices, and fertilizers.
Furthermore, Shi Wei-Ren stated that if regulations do not yet restrict certain goods but they raise concerns, they will be listed as high-risk items. E-commerce platform operators will be advised to assess sales risks and preventatively delist them in accordance with platform rules.
Yang Ming-Ze noted that after the Ministry of Digital Affairs compiles lists of prohibited items and keywords provided by various ministries, e-commerce platform operators are requested to integrate them into their daily patrols. In case of emergencies, the Ministry of Digital Affairs will use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to accelerate scanning and detection, providing specialized assistance, such as during the incident early this year where infant seaweed was found to contain excessive cadmium.
The Digital Industry Administration stated that in addition to quarterly liaison meetings for the joint prevention platform, it is currently developing a prohibited item keyword reporting platform. This platform will allow competent authorities to provide basic keywords, which will then be computationally broken down and expanded with synonyms. Combined with multi-modal detection technology for product images and text, it will provide e-commerce platforms with keyword lists. Operators will be asked to implement measures such as shielding, account suspension, or preventative delisting to strengthen the security management of the online transaction environment. (Edited by Pan Yi-Jing) 1150503
The Ministry of Digital Affairs established the "Network Platform Listing or Sale of Illegal Goods Joint Prevention Platform" at the end of 2024. It regularly invites representatives from relevant ministries, e-commerce associations, e-commerce platforms, and regulated online advertising platform operators to hold meetings. According to Shi Wei-Ren, head of the Platform Economy Group at the Digital Industry Administration, seven such joint prevention meetings have been held to date, accumulating over 50 handled proposals. These include assisting various ministries and industry players in establishing real-time reporting channels for the delisting of contraband items such as etizolam, Chuan Yun Jian, and e-cigarettes.
A random murder case occurred in Taipei late last year. Police investigations revealed that the suspect, Zhang Wen, obtained most of the equipment and tools used in the crime through online shopping platforms. In response, the Digital Industry Administration convened relevant ministries again early this year to hold a "E-commerce Platform Prohibited or High-Risk Goods Management Consultation Meeting," which saw the largest participation in history.
Shi Wei-Ren pointed out that a total of 21 relevant units participated, including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Financial Supervisory Commission, and National Communications Commission (NCC). They jointly confirmed two major categories of goods: those prohibited from sale and those that require a permit for sale.
Regarding e-commerce, Yang Ming-Ze, section chief of Platform Application, Platform Economy Group at the Digital Industry Administration, added that the focus is primarily on C2C (consumer-to-consumer) platforms because individual sellers are often less familiar with regulations. Therefore, the efforts are concentrated on the four major C2C e-commerce platforms: Shopee, Ruten, Yahoo, and Carousell, to strengthen the management of illegal goods.
Shi Wei-Ren explained that an e-commerce platform product management mechanism has been established, divided into "prohibited sales" and "restricted sales requiring a permit." Prohibited sales refer to goods that are legally forbidden from manufacturing, import, or sale, such as tobacco products, controlled drugs, counterfeits, vehicle license plates, narcotics, firearms, ammunition, explosives, and knives. Restricted sales requiring a permit refer to goods that require approval from the competent authority before they can be sold, such as telecommunications controlled radio frequency equipment, approved medicines, medical devices, and fertilizers.
Furthermore, Shi Wei-Ren stated that if regulations do not yet restrict certain goods but they raise concerns, they will be listed as high-risk items. E-commerce platform operators will be advised to assess sales risks and preventatively delist them in accordance with platform rules.
Yang Ming-Ze noted that after the Ministry of Digital Affairs compiles lists of prohibited items and keywords provided by various ministries, e-commerce platform operators are requested to integrate them into their daily patrols. In case of emergencies, the Ministry of Digital Affairs will use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to accelerate scanning and detection, providing specialized assistance, such as during the incident early this year where infant seaweed was found to contain excessive cadmium.
The Digital Industry Administration stated that in addition to quarterly liaison meetings for the joint prevention platform, it is currently developing a prohibited item keyword reporting platform. This platform will allow competent authorities to provide basic keywords, which will then be computationally broken down and expanded with synonyms. Combined with multi-modal detection technology for product images and text, it will provide e-commerce platforms with keyword lists. Operators will be asked to implement measures such as shielding, account suspension, or preventative delisting to strengthen the security management of the online transaction environment. (Edited by Pan Yi-Jing) 1150503