DPP Legislator Guo Yuqing criticized Jiang Wanan for citing wrong Threads account data and called for a return to fact-checking and rational policy discussions

Democratic Progressive Party legislator Guo Yuqing. (Photo by reporter Lin Zheyuan)

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan recently used a past article by Shen Boyang, a Democratic Progressive Party candidate for mayor of Taipei, who talked about drugs, as a political offense and defense, triggering massive criticism from netizens. In an interview today, Chiang Wanan accused, "There are 23 million people in Taiwan, and there are more than 90 million accounts on Threads, which is really the size of the entire government party." DPP legislator Guo Yuqing called on Chiang to return to fact-checking and rational policy discussions, and not to repeatedly let erroneous Internet data obscure the public health focus that is related to citizens' health.

Guo Yuqing pointed out that the Taiwan Fact Checking Center had clarified in its previously released Report No. 4132 that the online statement that "Taiwan has more than 90 million Threads accounts" was a rumor with incorrect data. Meta officials have never disclosed the account data of individual countries. The report misrepresented global data and did not include App traffic. Mayor Chiang's staff was not accurate enough when providing information, allowing Mayor Chiang to blatantly cite wrong and false information. This section suggests that the mayor's team should investigate further.

Please read on...

As for the outpouring of concerned voices in Mayor Jiang's Facebook messages, Guo Yuqing said that it was not mobilization by political parties at all, but frontline public health medical personnel and people who care about drug prevention policies. The people expressed real concerns and worries.

She emphasized that methadone replacement therapy and clean needle exchange are internationally scientifically proven to be effective and have been implemented in Taiwan for more than 20 years as a public health harm reduction policy. Regardless of whether it was the central or local governing teams in the past, everyone promoted it from the perspective of protecting social security. Policy can be discussed, but it should be based on correct information and science.

Guo Yuqing called on Taipei City as the capital, and citizens expect a high-level, rational, and fact-based policy dialogue. I hope Mayor Jiang will return to professional discussions on drug prevention and control, and stop letting erroneous Internet data obscure the public health focus that concerns citizens' health. Don't talk and listen, and keep talking about wrong and false information... Don't be so cute.

☆One less drug means more health, Liberty Times reminds you to stay away from drugs☆