TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's digital officials are scrambling to reinforce the island's cyber defenses following recent attacks on major healthcare facilities, with Digital Minister Yennun Huang (黃彥男) acknowledging on Thursday (March 13) that current protections require significant strengthening despite existing security protocols. The cyberattacks targeting Mackay Memorial Hospital (馬偕醫院) and Changhua Christian Hospital (彰化基督教醫院) have triggered alarm bells across Taiwan's government, prompting an urgent reassessment of digital safeguards for critical infrastructure.
Appearing before the Legislative Yuan's Transportation Committee (立法院交通委員會), Minister Huang faced pointed questions from legislators about the government's response to these digital intrusions. He made a direct appeal for legislative backing on cybersecurity funding, highlighting that proposed revisions to the Cyber Security Management Act (資通安全管理法) would substantially enhance audit processes and overall security posture.
Tsai Fu-lung (蔡福隆), who heads the Administration for Cyber Security (資通安全署), outlined plans for intensified collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, 衛福部). This partnership aims to conduct comprehensive assessments of hospital digital security systems and strategically allocate protection resources where most needed. The potential compromise of sensitive patient information emerged as a central concern during the legislative session. Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) legislator Hung Mong-kai (洪孟楷) raised the alarming possibility that stolen patient data could be trafficked on dark web marketplaces.
Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨) Legislator Lin Kuo-chen (林國成) pressed the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA, 數發部) to take a more proactive stance by developing preventive measures before attacks occur. Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) highlighted the persistent threat environment, noting that Taiwan's critical infrastructure faces daily cyberattacks. He warned that recent budget reductions for MODA could potentially undermine the island's digital defense capabilities.
As Taiwan confronts this evolving threat landscape, government officials are working to fortify the cybersecurity framework, with upcoming legislative actions expected to play a crucial role in shaping the island's digital protection strategy.