Taiwan Blocks Chinese App RedNote for One Year Amid Rising Fraud Cases
Taiwan has announced a one-year ban on access to RedNote – also known as Xiaohongshu – following a surge in online shopping scams linked to the Chinese social media platform.
According to reports from local media, Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau has recorded more than 1,700 fraud cases tied to the app since 2023, with losses exceeding NT$247 million (£5.9m; $7.9m). The platform, which combines short videos with e-commerce features, is widely used across Asia and has an estimated three million users in Taiwan alone.
Internet service providers on the island have been instructed to block the app, and early checks show that some users now encounter a notification citing “security restrictions” instead of gaining access.
Officials say the decision stems from both the volume of scams and the platform’s failure to meet Taiwan’s cybersecurity requirements. Authorities noted that the company has no local office and did not respond to requests for a plan to address data protection concerns, according to comments attributed to the interior minister by the Taipei Times.
Launched in 2013, Xiaohongshu has amassed a global audience and saw its user-base expand this year, particularly among Americans exploring alternatives to TikTok amid potential regulatory action in the US.
The move comes as Taiwan intensifies scrutiny of Chinese digital platforms over fears they may be used to shape public opinion or spread disinformation. Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control.
Xiaohongshu itself remains under pressure in China, where regulators recently called for “strict punishment” of company executives over what they described as “negative” content circulating on the app.
