Post by : Rameen Ariff

Taiwan has announced a one-year ban on the popular Chinese social media and shopping platform Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, citing widespread online shopping fraud and data security concerns. The island's Criminal Investigation Bureau reported that more than 1,700 cases of fraud linked to the app have been detected since last year, resulting in total losses exceeding NT$247 million (around $7.9 million or £5.9 million).

Xiaohongshu, a platform similar to TikTok with integrated shopping features, will be inaccessible to at least three million users in Taiwan following orders to local internet service providers to block access. Users attempting to open the app now see a message stating it is unavailable due to “security restrictions.”

Authorities in Taiwan said the app failed to meet data protection and cybersecurity standards, exposing users to significant risks. The platform does not maintain a local office in Taiwan and did not respond to government requests to submit a plan addressing these security issues, according to the country’s interior minister.

Launched in 2013, Xiaohongshu has amassed hundreds of millions of users worldwide and has seen growing popularity in Asia. Its user base in the United States expanded this year as users looked for alternatives to TikTok amid government threats to ban the Chinese platform.

The temporary ban in Taiwan also reflects growing concerns over China’s use of social media to influence public opinion and spread disinformation. Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has not ruled out using force to assert control. The ban on Xiaohongshu comes amid heightened scrutiny of Chinese apps, with regulators in China recently threatening the company with strict action over content deemed “negative” on its platform.

With this move, Taiwan aims to protect consumers from online scams while tightening oversight of foreign apps that do not comply with local cybersecurity standards, highlighting ongoing tensions between Taiwan and China in the digital space.

#Global News