Will EZ Way Be Taken Back into Public Operation? Customs Administration Clarifies 'Director-General's True Statement': Misunderstood by Influencers and Media

The real-name authentication app for customs clearance, "EZ Way Easy Delegate," is developed and operated by a public-private partnership company, raising public concerns about personal data security and whether paper-based authorization can still be used. In response, the Customs Administration of the Ministry of Finance issued a supplementary statement on August 3, clarifying that there are no plans to bring EZ Way back into public operation. It emphasized that Director-General Peng Ying-wei's remarks during a legislative hearing on July 29 were misinterpreted by online influencers and media outlets.

Regarding public concerns that e-commerce platforms are automatically linked to EZ Way and that customs brokers no longer accept paper-based authorization, the Administration stated that current regulations clearly allow either online or paper-based authorization. While most cross-border e-commerce platforms pre-set EZ Way registration and require users to confirm authorization before shipping, individuals who have not registered for EZ Way or are overseas and unable to confirm their authorization status may still request customs brokers to use paper-based authorization for customs clearance. Therefore, such concerns stem from misunderstandings.

On concerns about personal data collection by private enterprises, the Administration noted that Guanmao Company, the developer of EZ Way, is a customs network operator that meets the security requirements stipulated in the "Customs Network Operation Licensing and Management Measures." It is also classified as a Category One non-governmental agency under the Digital Economy-Related Industries Personal Data File Security Maintenance Management Measures issued by the Ministry of Digital Development. The company established a Personal Data Security Maintenance Plan on March 8, 2024, serving as a guiding document for its personal data protection management system.

Furthermore, the company has obtained international certifications ISO27001 for information security and ISO27018 for personal data management systems. It has also built its own Security Operations Center (SOC) and passed the connectivity test with the National Security Operations Center (N-SOC) under the Executive Yuan's National Information Security Office, meeting information security requirements. The public is assured of data safety.

Regarding public questions about why Guanmao Company developed the EZ Way app without being commissioned by customs, the Administration reiterated that the authorization relationship between individuals and customs brokers is a private legal matter. The EZ Way app is merely an online tool to help brokers and importers confirm the authenticity of authorization before customs declaration, and does not involve the customs declaration process itself. Therefore, the app was independently developed by Guanmao Company in response to industry needs, not commissioned by customs.

Director-General Peng Ying-wei, during a Finance Committee hearing at the Legislative Yuan on July 29, when asked whether customs had budgeted to bring EZ Way back into public operation, stated that such a move involves significant policy changes and would require careful evaluation. He added that a review report would be submitted within three months. He did not state that EZ Way would be immediately brought back into public operation. The Administration stressed that the reports by influencers and media were based on a misunderstanding.