(Central News Agency reporter Xie Xing’en, Taipei, 21st) Internet celebrity “curator” Chen Zhihan was dissatisfied with Wu Xindai, chairman of the Taipei Party Committee of Taiwan Foundation Progress, for describing him as a gangster in a Facebook post, and sued for 100,000 yuan in compensation and removal of the article. The Shilin District Court believed that Wu Xindai’s remarks were reasonable comments. Today, Chen Zhihan was sentenced to lose the case and can appeal.
Chen Zhihan claimed to the court that Wu Xindai published an article on a Facebook fan page on December 4 last year, writing, “What is the definition of a gangster? Groups of people with criminal records? Then isn’t Genghis Khan a gang?” “Genghis Khan There are a lot of people with criminal records inside, not to mention.”
In addition, Wu Xindai published articles on Facebook on the 13th of the same year, “After you (Chen Zhihan) donated several million, you can start a live broadcast with your disciple to intimidate others”, “No wonder many gangsters have turned to live broadcasts to sell things” and other articles.
Chen Zhihan believed that Wu Xindai described him as a gangster and falsely accused him of hosting a live broadcast to intimidate others, which had infringed on his reputation. He asked Wu for NT$100,000 in moral consolation, removal of the Facebook article, and publication on Facebook Civil judgment in this case.
Wu Xindai responded by pointing out that Chen Zhihan is a voluntary public figure. When she was interviewed by the media in the past, she did not express any objection to the gangster headlines narrated by reporters. Moreover, her Facebook article was a reasonable response to Chen Zhihan’s criticism of the government’s association with gangsters and participation in demonstrations. The comments did not infringe on Chen Zhihan’s reputation.
The judgment of the Shilin District Court mentioned that according to Wu Xindai’s evidence, Chen Zhihan had calmly faced his past gang history and the public’s perception of his image during interviews in the past. Therefore, describing Chen Zhihan as a “criminal” or a gangster was not fabricated out of thin air. The description should be considered to be an appropriate comment made in good faith on a matter that is subject to public comment. Wu Xindai’s behavior was not illegal in infringing Chen Zhihan’s reputation, and Chen Zhihan lost the lawsuit. (Editor: Xiao Bowen) 1121121
