 TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan has piloted AI-powered alerts at more than 500 ATMs across five banks to curb fraudulent cash withdrawals by scam mules.
Wang Yun-chung (王允中), deputy director-general of the Financial Supervisory Commission’s Banking Bureau, said ATMs equipped with the feature sound an alert when users attempt to withdraw cash while their faces are covered. He stressed the pilot program does not block transactions if users choose not to remove their face coverings. The National Police Agency said scam mules often wear masks or helmets when withdrawing cash from ATMs, complicating evidence collection and suspect tracking. It hopes the initiative will strengthen investigative capacity. Banks participating in the pilot program include Mega International Commercial Bank, CTBC Bank, Taiwan Cooperative Bank, Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, and First Commercial Bank. The Tainan City Government has also partnered with Chunghwa Post Co. to roll out the alert feature at some post office ATMs in the city. Wang said requiring all banks to ban face coverings during ATM withdrawals would raise legal issues under the Banking Act and require upgrading about 33,000 machines nationwide. The government will first introduce the alert feature in areas where scam mules are most active, he said. Wang added that some banks using the feature have seen fewer fraudulent withdrawals. The commission plans to discuss the program’s effectiveness with the police agency to determine whether to expand it. From January to November 2025, fraud losses in Taiwan reached NT$82.66 billion (US$2.6 billion), according to the police agency. Some scammers have used AI deepfake technology to create fake voices and videos to carry out schemes. The most common scams involve fake investment schemes or impersonating police or prosecutors. In 57% of cases, scam mules use victims’ bank cards to withdraw cash, and women are twice as likely as men to fall victim.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Amendments to the Foreign Professionals Act that expand graduate work exemptions, extend digital nomad visa durations, ease permanent residency requirements, and improve labor and social protections took effect on Jan. 1, as Taiwan seeks to attract more international talent.
The revised law exempts graduates of the world’s top 1,500 universities from the two-year work experience requirement, per Talent Taiwan. University graduates ranked in the world’s top 200 within the past five years can directly apply to the Ministry of Labor for up to two years of work authorization. Foreign professionals who earn degrees in Taiwan can count those years toward residency: three years for a doctorate, two for a master’s, and one for a bachelor’s or associate degree. “Foreign specialist professionals” — individuals with expertise in select fields who meet certain criteria, such as earning NT$6 million (US$198,000) annually or obtaining a PhD in Taiwan — may qualify for permanent residency after one year. Foreign students who graduate in Taiwan will be exempt from needing a work permit while job hunting and can extend their residency for up to two years during their search. Spouses of foreign senior professionals or foreign specialist professionals can apply directly for work permits during their dependent residency period. The digital nomad visa has been extended from six months to two years. The visa enables foreign professionals who work remotely, without being employed by or providing services to a business entity in Taiwan, to stay in the country. Foreign professionals with permanent residency are eligible for employment insurance, covering unemployment benefits, vocational training allowances, and parental leave pay. Foreign professionals no longer need permanent residency to be eligible to join Taiwan’s labor pension system, and employers contribute 6% to a portable pension account. Foreign professionals with permanent residency who have lived in Taiwan for more than 10 years and are 65 or older, or who have a disability, will have full access to long-term care and disability services.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Shilin District Prosecutors Office on Tuesday indicted two executives and issued a wanted notice for OnePlus founder Pete Lau, alleging the Chinese smartphone firm illegally employed more than 70 Taiwanese engineers and funneled funds to support the operation.
Prosecutors said Lau conspired with a man surnamed Lin (林) and a woman surnamed Cheng (鄭) to set up a Hong Kong company under the OnePlus name in March 2014 and register a Taiwan branch in March 2015. Cheng served as the legal representative, and in May 2019, “OnePlus” was replaced with “Sonar” in the companies’ names. Between August 2015 and January 2021, prosecutors said, the company funneled more than NT$2.3 billion (US$72.93 million) to the Taiwan branch through a Hong Kong trading company, describing the transfers as “revenue from commissioned R&D and the sale of R&D results assets.” The funds were used to recruit staff in Taiwan, pay salaries, and purchase equipment. During questioning, Cheng said she was a nominal legal representative who handled tax planning, was unfamiliar with the company’s operations, and did not receive a salary. She said the Taiwan branch’s only business was conducting R&D for OnePlus mobile phones. Lin said he was appointed by Lau as R&D director and was responsible for interviewing and leading the team. He said the Taiwan branch never developed its own clients and that all operational decisions were made by Lau. Witnesses said software developed by the Taiwan branch was used exclusively for OnePlus and Oppo phones. Administrative managers were also required to regularly report employee attendance and financial conditions to the Shenzhen headquarters. After the investigation, prosecutors concluded that Cheng and Lin violated the Cross-Strait Act and charged them on Tuesday. Prosecutors also issued a wanted notice for Lau.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Household internet penetration in Taiwan reached 93.4% in 2025, a record that underscores how embedded the internet has become in daily life.
Between May and July 2025, the Ministry of Digital Affairs conducted a survey of internet usage among people aged 12 and older, using landlines and mobile phones, and collected 15,142 valid responses. Mobile internet use on personal devices reached a record 90.3% last year, up 2.7% from 2024. The share of frequent internet users rose from 67.5% in 2024 to 68.8% last year. Messaging remained the most popular online activity, used by 97.2% of users, followed by online video entertainment at 91.2%. More than half of users also go online to search for information, read, use online banking, or access cloud services. Among users, 46.9% searched for information via websites, down 3.4% from 2024. The ministry attributed the decline to more users turning to AI-powered applications. Last year, 69.3% of people bought goods, ordered meals, booked rides, or reserved accommodations online, up 0.8% from 2024. However, the ministry noted the share of sellers offering goods online fell from 8.3% in 2024 to 7% last year. Taiwan had more than 11.6 million 5G users as of November, the National Communications Commission reported. Taiwanese spend an average of 7 hours and 23 minutes online daily, including about 4 hours on mobile phones. Nearly 60% of internet users also watch short videos each day. The share of users who have tried generative AI rose from 26.8% in 2024 to 43.2% last year, with 8.5% willing to pay for premium features. Facebook remained the most popular social media platform in Taiwan, used by 51.4% of internet users, followed by Instagram at 21.1% and Threads at 4.6%. Internet use among people aged 70 and older rose from 31.9% in 2022 to 53.8% last year.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Metro unveiled a memorial plaque honoring the man who was killed while attempting to stop an attacker at Taipei Main Station.
Twenty-seven-year-old Chang Wen (張文) on Dec. 19 threw smoke grenades and carried out a knife attack in and around Taipei Main Station and the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi store, killing four people, including himself. Near Exit M7 of the station, 57-year-old Yu Chia-chang (余家昶) confronted Chang and was fatally stabbed. Taipei Metro said a permanent stainless steel memorial plaque has been installed on the B1 passageway leading to Exit M8 to commemorate Yu’s selfless bravery and sacrifice. The unveiling ceremony was attended by Taipei Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua (林奕華) and Taipei Metro Chairman Chao Shao-lien (趙紹廉), among other representatives. The plaque, titled “Memorial to Mr. Yu Chia-chang’s Heroic Sacrifice,” recounts the incident in both Mandarin and English. It says Yu courageously intervened, sparing many passengers from greater harm, and “acted with selfless bravery to save others.” “His righteous deed moves us deeply, and his spirit will live on in our hearts forever," reads the inscription. It added that “His righteousness endures forever, his noble spirit lives on.” Taipei Metro reminded passengers that the memorial plaque area is a major thoroughfare for passengers entering and exiting the station. It asked passengers not to place bouquets or other items at the site to keep the passageways clear and safe.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A person was struck and killed by a Taiwan High Speed Rail train at Tainan station.
The person fell onto the tracks as southbound Train No. 1307 was entering the station, and staff immediately alerted emergency services. Firefighters and police arrived at the scene, where the person was found dead. The cause of the fall remains under investigation. The case has been handed over to the Railway Police Bureau. Some trains were delayed, but full line operations resumed at 12:54 p.m. THSR said affected travelers may be eligible for compensation. As the incident was not caused by the company and does not qualify as force majeure, passengers whose trips were delayed by more than 30 minutes will receive a refund equal to 10% of the ticket price. Looking ahead, THSR is implementing a station platform screen door project costing NT$2.05 billion (US$64.8 million). Full completion across all stations is expected by 2028.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Education said schools are increasingly incorporating bilingual instruction into daily campus life.
A total of 1,049 elementary and junior high schools have gradually extended English use beyond the classroom, including in extracurricular activities and administrative operations. The ministry has provided NT$408 million (US$12.9 million) in funding. Spread across 22 counties and cities, the support allows schools to tailor bilingual programs to their needs and take varied approaches to everyday bilingual learning. At Kaohsiung Municipal Fushan Junior High School, the goal is to “create a bilingual campus life to prepare for future society.” The school combines campus design, curricular activities, and digital resources to build immersive, student-centered bilingual environments. Bilingual audiobooks and student-produced videos connect language learning with digital literacy. Activities such as bilingual challenges, health exercises, and parent-child fairs extend learning beyond the classroom into homes and communities. Teachers said professional exchanges and guidance clarified the direction for promoting bilingual campus life. Many emphasized that stable implementation depends on building consensus across the school, ensuring students feel supported, and giving them space to experiment and express themselves. The K-12 Education Administration described the initiative as comprehensive and sustainable, with plans to continue this year. Teacher workshops, outcome-sharing sessions, and iterative review mechanisms are expected to help schools steadily advance the program. Since 2018, Taiwan has promoted a bilingual nation policy to develop talent with English communication skills and international competitiveness. By 2024, around 60% of public elementary and junior high schools had implemented bilingual programs.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city plans to maintain smoke-free rules in public areas while creating designated spaces for smokers.
Chiang cited Tokyo’s approach, where smoking is generally prohibited except in specific zones. Taipei plans to follow a similar model, with measures set to take effect before the end of the year. Surveys Chiang cited indicate that 85% of Taipei residents have encountered people smoking while walking, and 80% support the creation of fixed outdoor smoking areas. The city’s health and environmental bureaus, together with law enforcement agencies, are developing a phased rollout. John Tung Foundation Tobacco Control Center Director Lin Ching-li (林清麗) said smoke-free policies should start indoors, covering workplaces and public buildings, before extending to outdoor spaces, following World Health Organization recommendations. She welcomed Taipei’s measures, noting they are likely to gain wide public support. Currently, Taiwan’s Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act bans smoking on sidewalks near schools below senior high level and outside certain convenience stores and coffee shops. However, it does not cover smoking while walking. Enforcement is limited, Lin said, as only health authorities can act on smoking violations, while environmental authorities can address cigarette litter. In contrast, Hong Kong allows health, environmental, and police authorities to enforce smoke-free rules. Lin said Taipei’s high population density may make it challenging to place outdoor smoking areas in ways acceptable to both businesses and the public. She said implementing such areas will require multiple strategies and practical solutions.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei has formed a metro police unit and will deploy about 240 officers to strengthen passenger safety, Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said.
The unit will be led by Liao Kuo-an (廖國安), former deputy commander of the city’s Criminal Investigation Corps. At the inauguration ceremony, Hou said a branch will be established for the Sanying Line when it opens in April. Three additional branches, each staffed with about 20 officers, are planned for the Tucheng–Shulin Line, expected to open in 2031, and the Xizhi–Mingsheng Line, scheduled for completion in 2032. Hou said metro police must respond quickly, keeping the time between receiving a report and arriving at the scene as short as possible. He also called for a comprehensive response system, including protecting the public, apprehending suspects, and supporting backup officers. Hou said the city government supports metro police in using their authority to inspect for dangerous items in stations and on trains. He said officers may assess passengers by observing their behavior, expressions, and conversations. Liao said that following stabbing incidents at Taipei Main Station and Zhongshan Station in December that left three people dead and 11 injured, with the suspect later dying, New Taipei police have teamed up with Taipei Metro and Taoyuan Metro to form a support network. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said Taipei Metro has also collaborated with the city’s police to conduct safety drills aimed at improving passenger evacuation, tracking suspects, and reporting procedures. The city government will also provide metro staff with enhanced safety equipment, including anti-riot forks and stun batons.  TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said the ministry has proposed revisions to labor regulations that would allow hospitals to directly employ foreign care workers to assist with the daily needs of patients with acute conditions.
Shih said the health ministry began piloting the “Inpatient Integrated Care” program three years ago to meet hospitalized patients’ daily care needs. Previously, patients or families had to hire caregivers themselves, which at times led to conflicts with hospital management, especially during the pandemic. Under the program, hospitals employ care assistants to work alongside nurses, providing care at a ratio of one caregiver to four or five patients. The costs are shared by patients and the National Health Insurance system. Shih said feedback has been positive, as small households often struggle when a family member is hospitalized and the program helps ease their burden. However, hospitals face a shortage of domestic caregivers, prompting the proposal to bring in intermediate-skilled foreign care workers. In the past, such care workers could only be employed in long-term care institutions, chronic care wards, or respiratory care wards, but not in general hospitals. With acute inpatients’ care needs increasing, and the Inpatient Integrated Care program showing benefits for families, the health ministry sees a need to expand the policy. Shih stressed the policy is not intended to replace nurses, as some have misunderstood. Instead, it would reduce frontline nurses’ workload, allowing them to focus on professional duties, while foreign care workers assist with daily care. Shih added the ministry is optimistic about the proposal. The revision has been submitted to the labor ministry, which will review it before any public announcement. The goal is to complete the amendments in the second quarter of this year, though hiring foreign personnel would take additional time. |