Marketing Firm Executive Sentenced to 4 Months for Illicit Acquisition of Military Personnel Data

According to the Central News Agency, a man surnamed Chen, the de facto head of a marketing firm in Hsinchu County, obtained the personal data of military personnel and their families to expand his client base while assisting a Lieutenant Pan of the Army's 8th Corps with debt consolidation. The Hsinchu District Court sentenced Chen to four months in prison for violating the Personal Data Protection Act. The court ruling stated that Pan, seeking to reduce his debt consolidation fees, used his access to emergency recall rosters to collect the personal data of approximately 400 soldiers and their relatives, sending photos of the lists to Chen via LINE. Chen then contacted the individuals on the lists for business purposes. The judge condemned Chen for failing to use legal channels and exploiting a public servant to obtain military data. Chen was sentenced to four months, which can be commuted to a fine. Pan has already been sentenced to six months by the Tainan District Court.