Taiwan Fines Coupang $48,000 for Data Breach Affecting 200,000 Customers Taiwan’s government has fined South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang 1.5 million New Taiwan dollars (approximately $48,000) for a data breach that exposed the personal information of 200,000 Taiwanese customers. The Ministry of Digital Affairs imposed 750,000 New Taiwan dollars ($24,000) each on Coupang’s Taiwan subsidiary and its local chief on August 17, citing violations of the Personal Data Protection Act. The breach, first disclosed by Coupang in February, involved unauthorized access to customer data, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, delivery addresses, and order records. A forensic investigation by cybersecurity firm Mandiant determined that a former employee had stored data from a single account but did not access financial details, passwords, or login credentials. Coupang compensated affected customers with vouchers worth 45,900 won (about $35) each. Under Taiwan’s data protection laws, non-government entities must implement security measures to prevent data leaks, as outlined in Article 27, Paragraph 1 of the act. While fines can reach 2 million New Taiwan dollars ($64,000) for standard violations and 15 million New Taiwan dollars ($480,000) for severe cases, authorities opted for a mid-range penalty in this instance. The ministry also ordered corrective measures to prevent future incidents. The case highlights regulatory scrutiny over data security in Taiwan, particularly for foreign companies operating in the region.