Title: Taiwan to Block Chinese Social Media App Xiaohongshu Over Security Concerns
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REPORTER:
First government agencies, and now the public.
Officials in Taiwan have moved from banning civil servants from using Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, to taking direct action against the platform itself.
Citing cybersecurity risks and a surge in online scams, the interior ministry ordered internet providers to block connection to Xiaohongshu’s servers for a year.
If your platform wants to operate within the Republic of China and be available to the public then you must comply with our laws. You also need to respond to our requests to address any illegal or improper activity that appears on the platform.
REPORTER:
In just the past year, authorities in Taiwan say the platform has been linked to more than 1,700 fraud cases, resulting in millions of dollars in losses.
The ban will gradually affect the more than 3 million users in Taiwan -- and when it does, they won’t be able to open the app, cutting off access to all content.
REPORTER:
Experts say the restrictions will stop Xiaohongshu from collecting user data in Taiwan.
If you turn it on it won’t be able to access what you type in and it also won’t be able to analyze any of the content you’re using. So for the platform provider it basically becomes useless.
REPORTER:
But the main opposition Kuomintang is blasting the move, saying it goes against freedom of speech.
Defending human rights protecting freedom of speech safeguarding digital rights and freedoms in the digital world these are our universal values.
REPORTER:
But some who use the app say it does at least need oversight:
The government should first conduct a thorough review and then decide whether to allow this app into Taiwan.
We all have a lot of different kinds of alternatives, like Instagram or like TikTok, so I think banning this app, maybe it’s not really like a symbol to deny freedom of speech.
REPORTER:
While others say the new rules won’t impact their lives.
If they want to block it, then block it. I don’t use it anyway. It’s not something I encounter in my daily life.
REPORTER:
Taiwanese government has made it clear that users won’t be penalized for installing Xiaohongshu, but it has strongly urged people to stop using it and recommends removing the app.
Officials say any lifting of the ban will depend on whether the platform is willing to comply with Taiwan’s laws and implement corrective measures.
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