Taipei: The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) announced a collaboration with the messaging app LINE to implement an account authentication system for government officials, aimed at combating fraud.

According to Focus Taiwan, MODA Deputy Minister Lin Yi-jing highlighted at a news conference in Taipei that LINE is Taiwan’s most widely used messaging app, which has unfortunately become a tool for fraud rings to execute scams. A recurring scheme involves scammers impersonating government officials or social workers on LINE, pretending to provide assistance while disseminating false information.

To address this issue, LINE has proposed the development of a government official account authentication system with MODA. This initiative will feature a “blue shield” badge next to an official’s account name on their LINE profile, enabling the public to differentiate between genuine and fraudulent accounts.

MODA indicated that the account name will also display the official’s agency, title, and name. For example, a social worker’s account might appear as “Tainan City Government Social Affairs Bureau Social Worker Wang Hsiao-ming.”

When asked if the information would automatically translate based on a user’s language settings, Yang Keng-yu, the deputy head of MODA’s Department of Digital Service, told CNA that it will remain in traditional Chinese.

Wang Cheng-ming, head of MODA’s Department of Digital Service, advised the public to be cautious with accounts showing a gray shield or no badge, as these are unverified and not affiliated with the government. He noted reports of fake accounts using the identities of mayors and other officials to solicit money. In one county, 310 suspected fake government LINE accounts were documented, with about 23 percent confirmed as impersonations related to health care, police, and social welfare.

To facilitate the initiative, Wang stated that MODA will create a system for agencies to apply for “blue shield” accounts, and LINE will establish a separate verification mechanism to cross-check application data with MODA. Government officials must submit applications through MODA, which will verify their identities.

Yang mentioned that the system is expected to be initially launched in Taiwan’s six special municipalities-Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung-but preparations are ongoing, and the launch date remains unconfirmed as of Tuesday.