“Epoch Times News December 6, 2025” — The mobile application “Xiaohongshu” (also known as Little Red Book) in Taiwan is facing high risks of fraud and inadequate cybersecurity measures, leading the Ministry of the Interior to order a temporary one-year block. The Premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Rong-tai Cho, stated that the government will monitor whether Xiaohongshu provides legal or technical commitments over the next year, or else they may consider directly shutting it down using technological means.
Critics have questioned why Taiwan has only banned Xiaohongshu, with the Minister of the Interior of the Republic of China, Shih-fang Liu, stating in a media interview at the Legislative Yuan on the 5th that any business operating in Taiwan must comply with relevant regulations. The government has made numerous attempts to contact Xiaohongshu, but as it lacks a legal representative in Taiwan, the lack of response shows a disregard for the government’s anti-fraud regulations, making it unworthy of support from Taiwan.
Premier Rong-tai Cho, during an interview with the host Zheng Hong-yi on the radio program “Treasure Island Worldwide,” mentioned that companies like Meta, LINE, Google, and Threads have established a presence in Taiwan, allowing the government to identify responsible individuals and companies. When fraudulent misleading advertisements appear on social media platforms, the government can demand that the operators remove them within a specified time frame. Failure to comply may result in penalties, as was the case with Meta in the past. The government seeks to ensure that operators understand they are serious about enforcement, which in turn leads to higher compliance levels.
Cho stated that foreign social media platforms operating in Taiwan are manageable, as they cooperate with the government’s requirements. However, Xiaohongshu’s complete lack of cooperation with government requests has resulted in fraudulent transactions amounting to NT$200 million, affecting numerous victims. Moreover, the inappropriate content on Xiaohongshu hinders the mental and emotional growth of young people, drawing criticism and concern from parenting groups in Taiwan. The government aims to take action to manage Xiaohongshu more effectively.
Pointing out that Xiaohongshu originates from China, a place with severe restrictions on freedom of speech, Cho criticized the Chinese Communist Party for allowing Xiaohongshu to undermine Taiwan’s freedom of expression. The government’s priority is to protect Taiwanese youth from prolonged exposure to Xiaohongshu, safeguarding them from the risks of fraudulent activities and harmful misleading content. Emphasizing that besides involvement in fraud, Xiaohongshu’s non-compliance with government regulations has led to its temporary one-year block, with a commitment to monitoring future legal or technical undertakings. Otherwise, further steps may involve cutting off access through technological measures.
Regarding public calls for the government to regulate TikTok, Cho mentioned that TikTok has not established a presence in Taiwan. Despite TikTok responding to government requests, continued non-compliance will not be tolerated, and relevant government departments will be closely monitoring the situation.
Cho also noted that some platforms intending to operate in Taiwan, such as Shopee and Pinduoduo, face legal and Chinese funding issues, leading them to establish a presence through third countries or other companies. Once they comply with regulations, they will come under government supervision.