Why Can Private Companies Control EZ Way's Personal Data? Financial Network Explains 'Backstage Operation Logic', Revealing Reasons for Private Sector Outsourcing

The "EZ Way易利委" app used for customs clearance in cross-border e-commerce has recently been criticized by the public and influencers for being built and operated by the private company Customs Network and introducing a paid mechanism, raising concerns about personal data security and the roles of government and private sectors. The Ministry of Finance immediately issued a clarification in three points, emphasizing that Customs Network's security meets international certification standards and that paper-based authorization can still be used. Financial network Hu Cai-ping also posted on Facebook, stating that Customs Network is essentially a government-controlled company. Hu Cai-ping pointed out on Facebook that Customs Network has a 36% stake held by the Ministry of Finance and is a government-controlled company. She explained that although Customs Network has private shares, these are mostly "drafted" by the Ministry of Finance or Customs, with the largest private shareholding being only about 5%. She also defended Customs Network's profitability, stating that an EPS of 3 yuan per year is already an excellent performance, and that profits are distributed as dividends, which is very transparent to private shareholders. She explained that such companies are called "government-private mixed companies" in textbooks, but in reality, they are government-controlled companies. The reason for adopting a general company structure and listing is the mainstream trend after the listing of Chunghwa Telecom in 2000. If a government-controlled company is profitable, it must share the profits with the private sector, and the popularization of shareholding is a way to share profits. She also said, "If not corporatized and not listed, it would be like the National Health Insurance Administration, always fearing losses every day." The Ministry of Finance clarified in three points in response to external criticism. First, Customs has not abolished paper-based authorization, and the public can still request customs brokers to use paper-based authorization for customs clearance. Although most cross-border e-commerce platforms preset that users have registered the EZ Way APP, if users have not registered or are abroad and cannot use it, they can still request paper-based customs clearance. Second, Customs Network's security meets international certification and national-level security requirements, has passed ISO 27001 international security certification and ISO 27018 personal data management system standard certification, has built its own security monitoring center, and has also passed the security joint defense monitoring connection test by the National Communications Security Commission. All collection, use, and storage of personal data strictly comply with relevant regulations of the Personal Data Protection Act. Third, customs authorization is a private legal relationship. The EZ Way APP is developed and built by Customs Network to meet the needs of businesses, not commissioned by Customs. Any business with the qualifications to operate customs networks can independently develop online authorization apps. Regarding the suggestion of legislators to take back the EZ Way APP to public operation, the Ministry of Finance stated that this matter involves major policy changes and should be carefully evaluated, and clarified that the news that the Customs Administration promised to take back public operation within three months is not a fact.