Two Taichung city councillors are taking online critics to court, saying election-season smears crossed the line from criticism into false accusations.

• Councillors Wu Cheng-hsien and Wu Chien-te, who are brothers, went to police on August 24 to file charges for defamation and violations of election law.
• Posts accused Wu Cheng-hsien of occupying public irrigation land for rental income and buying his academic credentials — claims he denies, saying he attended every class and wrote his thesis on his local district.
• Other posts accused his brother of pocketing money from grants applied for through his status as an Indigenous councillor.
• The brothers link the attacks to the year-end elections and say politicians can be criticized, but personal attacks and made-up claims are another matter.
• Their message: social media is not outside the law, and what people post carries legal consequences.

Outlook: The case now moves through the courts, and the brothers say they will not comment further on details as the campaign heats up.