2026-06-16 00:00 United Daily News / Reporters Liao Jingqing and Weng Weizhen / Taipei Report
Since July 2022, a school bus driver surnamed Li has been posing as a charlatan to lure and sexually assault multiple female students, resulting in some contracting HIV. There are public demands to release Li’s personal information. Experts suggest a compromise solution of “tiered, high-risk, and gradual” approaches, considering releasing information on perpetrators at the highest level, those with a high risk of recidivism, or those who have previously assaulted minors.
Guo Cairong, Director of the Protection Division of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, pointed out that according to the current “Child and Youth Sexual
Exploitation Protection Act,” both perpetrators and victims in child and youth criminal cases must keep their personal information confidential. The current system adopts a “passive access” approach rather than “full disclosure,” which involves multiple considerations including human rights protection, victim privacy, and crime prevention.
According to the “Sexual Assault Crime Prevention Act,” sex offenders meeting certain conditions are required to report to the police within a specified period after serving their sentences or being released on parole. Their information is managed through a data access mechanism. However, this information is not fully disclosed; it is only available to specific units upon legal request.
With the increasing prevalence of sexual assault and violence, some have called for measures similar to the U.S. “Megan’s Law,” which involves publishing perpetrator photos and information to raise public awareness. Kuo Tsai-jung stated that she had convened meetings with NGOs and experts to discuss this issue, but found that recidivism rates in countries implementing Megan’s Law have not significantly decreased; instead, they have caused community panic. Therefore, it was decided not to adopt this approach in Taiwan.
Kuo Tsai-jung emphasized that sex offenders face permanent social stigma after their release, which can hinder rehabilitation and reintegration, increasing the risk of recidivism. Furthermore, in most sexual assault cases, the perpetrators are acquaintances, relatives, or individuals with whom they have a specific relationship. Full disclosure of perpetrator information could indirectly expose the victim’s identity, causing secondary harm.
Wang Po-chi, Associate Professor of the Department of Criminal Justice at Ming Chuan University, stated that “Megan’s Law” represents a “radical disclosure” model, which could trigger social side effects similar to allergic reactions to vaccines. He suggests a compromise approach of “tiered, hotspot-based, and gradual” implementation. Referring to international tiered systems, perpetrators could be categorized into three levels based on their risk level. Initially, information should be made available to those at the highest level—those with a high risk of recidivism or who have previously harmed minors.
Furthermore, implementation should begin in “crime hotspots,” such as elementary and middle schools, kindergartens, or cram schools—areas with a high likelihood of victimization. De-identifying characteristics of high-risk individuals could be provided to raise parental awareness of victim prevention. This would strike an optimal balance between protecting potential victims and maintaining a supportive environment for rehabilitation.