TaiwanThe Executive Yuan's Anti-Fraud Command Center recently announced that it will crack down on fraud on Chinese social media platforms.Xiaohongshu"A one-year lockdown." - PremierZhuo RongtaiOn Friday (December 5), it was stated that Xiaohongshu was involved in fraud amounting to 200 million yuan and had not responded to government requests at all. The government will observe whether the platform improves within one year and makes more comprehensive legal or technical commitments; otherwise, it will consider taking technological measures to "shut it down directly."
In an interview with Formosa Magazine on the 5th, Cho Jung-tai pointed out that platforms such as Meta, Line, Google, and Threads have already established a presence in Taiwan. If fraudulent or false advertisements appear, users can request their removal within a specified time; failure to do so will result in penalties. Some platforms, such as Shopee and Pinduoduo, may operate in Taiwan through third countries or other means due to legal or Chinese funding factors.
In response to public questions regarding the Executive Yuan's measure, Cho Jung-tai pointed out that Xiaohongshu's disregard for government requirements has resulted in fraud exceeding NT$2 million, and its content has also harmed children and teenagers, a concern shared by many parenting groups. He emphasized that Xiaohongshu originates from China, where the environment for free speech is restricted. Their allowing unfree speech to circulate in Taiwan undermines freedom of speech, which the government cannot accept.
Cho Jung-tai stated that the temporary one-year ban was intended to demonstrate that Taiwan still maintains freedom of speech. However, for platforms that harm teenagers or offer false advertising, blocking their use can reduce their influence, as Taiwanese people still have other platforms available. He bluntly stated that if Xiaohongshu continues to be uncooperative, more direct technological measures may be taken in the future, and even shutting it down entirely may be considered.
The Kuomintang (KMT) criticized the move as "suppressing internet freedom," arguing that blocking apps under the pretext of national security or fraud risks could set a precedent for restricting freedom of speech. Some netizens also pointed out that other platforms with higher rates of fraud and cybersecurity risks, compared to Xiaohongshu, were not blocked, questioning the fairness and transparency of the blocking decision.
On the other hand, for users who are used to using Xiaohongshu to search for lifestyle information such as beauty, fashion, and travel, the decision to block the platform will prevent them from accessing the information they used to have, which may affect some businesses or individual operators.
