Taiwan has announced a one-year ban on the Chinese-owned social media platform Xiaohongshu after the company allegedly refused to cooperate with authorities investigating fraud cases linked to the app.
Xiaohongshu — known internationally as RedNote — has grown rapidly among young Taiwanese, attracting around 3 million users in the island’s population of 23 million. But officials have long warned that the Instagram-like platform could be exploited for pro-Beijing influence operations or disinformation — part of what Taipei describes as an ongoing information warfare campaign from China.
Beijing’s Communist Party claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the island under its control, despite never having governed it.
Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior said on Thursday that Xiaohongshu failed to provide data required for fraud investigations, noting the app has been linked to more than 1,700 cases resulting in financial losses of NT$247.7 million (US$7.9 million).
“Due to the inability to obtain necessary data in accordance with the law, law enforcement authorities have encountered significant obstacles in investigations, creating a de facto legal vacuum,” the ministry said.
The ban’s start date has yet to be confirmed, though users in Taiwan were still able to access the platform as of Friday afternoon. CNN has sought comment from Xiaohongshu.
The move comes amid heightened global concern over cybersecurity threats and disinformation tied to Chinese tech platforms, including Xiaohongshu and TikTok. China requires companies to store data domestically and provide state access, while also enforcing strict censorship that experts say can shape public opinion.
Governments worldwide have responded with increasing restrictions: India banned dozens of Chinese apps in 2020; the US and Europe have blocked TikTok on government devices; and Texas has added Xiaohongshu to its own restricted list. Taiwan has prohibited Xiaohongshu, TikTok, and Douyin from official devices since 2019.
Earlier this week, Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs identified five apps — including Xiaohongshu, TikTok, Weibo, and WeChat — as posing “significant cybersecurity risks,” citing excessive data collection and potential sharing without user consent. A National Security Bureau assessment found Xiaohongshu failed every part of its security evaluation.
The ban has already drawn criticism from some users and opposition lawmakers, who say it restricts freedom of expression.
“We once mocked people in China for needing VPNs to access information,” said Kuomintang legislator Lai Shyh-bao. “Internet freedom in Taiwan is heading toward a day when people will need VPNs.”
The Interior Ministry noted that major international platforms — such as Facebook, Google, LINE, and TikTok — have local legal representation in Taiwan and comply with regulatory requirements. Authorities have asked the Shanghai-based company to submit a remedial plan, but say no response has been received.
“This is not a problem unique to Taiwan. It exists globally. Even within China, this platform has repeatedly violated regulations,” Deputy Interior Minister Ma Shih-yuan said. “From our perspective, it is a malicious platform — one that operates beyond legal oversight and with unclear intentions.”
