Internet Content Rating Regulations

April 26, 2004 Government Information Office Press Release 0930622071-A

Article 1

This regulation is based on Section 3, Article 27 of the Children and Youth Welfare Act.

Article 2

The following are definitions of words utilized in these Regulations:

Computer networking: Refers to connecting to the Internet to obtain public information from websites.
Internet service provider: Refers to a party that provides Internet access, platforms and content.
Internet access provider: Refers to a company that provides a dedicated line or dial-up method to access the Internet.
Internet platform provider (referred to hereafter as platform provider): Refers to a company that provides global information network, electronic mail, full-text search and other Internet-related information services.
Internet content provider (referred to hereafter as content provider): Refers to the party that provides content on a website or page.
Internet content rating organization: Refers to a non-profit institution commissioned by the government to design an Internet content rating system and operation of such a system.
Article 3

Internet content shall not include illegal or banned material.

Article 4

Internet content shall be divided into four ratings, with exceptions based on legal amendments:

General: websites suitable for surfing by all persons;
Protected: websites that may not be suitable for children under six;
Supervised: websites that may not be suitable for children under 12. Parent, teacher or guardian supervision required for children between the ages of 12 and 18; and
Restricted: websites denied to persons under 18.
The standards for the rating system are in the attached corresponding table, while their labels are in the attached corresponding chart.

Article 5

Internet chat rooms, discussion areas, photo albums, and other functions offered by platform providers and content providers should clearly note whether there are managers for the sites and whether the sites are inappropriate for persons of certain ages.

Article 6

As per the rules in Article 4, content providers must post a label for websites.

Article 7

Platform providers not restricting surfing by children under 18 shall provide a rating service mechanism. The same applies for other providers who are unable to effectively restrict surfers.

Article 8

Internet service providers who have been notified by government agencies or other commissioned bodies of content on their network against the law or the rules of these Regulations shall restrict access to children and adolescents or remove the offending content.

Article 9

The government shall assist the Internet content rating service institution in monitoring Internet content, reviewing the rating standard wording, setting rating standards, and establishing an appeal mechanism.

The supervising government agency shall assist or encourage Internet service providers to establish an Internet content rating mechanism.

Article 10

Internet service providers shall complete their Internet rating preparations and institute the ratings within 18 months of the promulgation of these Regulations. Prior to this deadline, Internet service providers shall, in accordance with the self-discipline covenant drawn up by the Taiwan Internet Association, institute a content filter or age ID certification mechanism in order to prevent children or adolescents from accessing inappropriate information.

Article 11

These Regulations take effect from the date of promulgation.