Taiwan to Block Access to Xiaohongshu for One Year Over Online Shopping Fraud Concerns
Taiwan has announced it will block access to the social media and online shopping platform RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, for one year due to concerns about online shopping fraud. The move is expected to affect about 3 million Taiwanese users. Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau reported that there have been more than 1,700 cases of online shopping fraud since last year, with losses exceeding NT$247 million.
The start date for the ban and when it will take effect have not been revealed. Taiwanese authorities highlighted that the app's operators do not have a local office in Taiwan and have not submitted a cybersecurity improvement plan to regulators, according to Taiwan's interior minister.
Xiaohongshu, launched in 2013, has hundreds of millions of users globally and is particularly popular in Asia. Its US user base has grown this year as Americans look for alternatives to TikTok. The decision to block the app comes amid broader concerns about Beijing's use of social media to influence public views and spread disinformation. China has not ruled out using force in relation to Taiwan, and in September, Chinese regulators urged strict punishment of Xiaohongshu's operators due to negative posts.
