Taiwan Bans Chinese Social-Media App Xiaohongshu for One Year over Fraud Concerns
GeokHub
Contributing Writer
TAIPEI — Dec 4 (GeokHub) Taiwan’s government has ordered a one-year suspension of access to the Chinese social-media app Xiaohongshu, after authorities cited alleged fraud risks and failures in cybersecurity compliance. The restriction targets the roughly three million users of the platform in Taiwan.
According to the order, Xiaohongshu was linked to more than 1,700 fraud cases since 2024, with reported financial losses totalling hundreds of millions of New Taiwan dollars. The app reportedly failed all 15 security and compliance benchmarks in a government cybersecurity assessment.
The ban means that the app will be blocked from local internet access — new downloads and usage will be disallowed, and existing users will lose access during the one-year period. Officials said the move aims to protect the public from scams and reinforce digital safeguards.
Authorities indicated further actions will depend on whether the app’s operator meets Taiwan’s legal and cybersecurity requirements — including appointing a local legal representative, complying with regulatory oversight, and ensuring user protections.
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The decision reflects growing concerns in Taiwan over foreign apps’ security, data privacy, and their potential role in fraud or disinformation — an issue increasingly influencing regulation of digital platforms.
