Taipei City: Taiwan will block access to the Chinese social media and shopping platform Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, for one year following a surge in online shopping scams.
The island’s Criminal Investigation Bureau reported that more than 1,700 fraud cases have been linked to the app since last year, with losses exceeding $7.9 million (NT$247 million, £5.9 million), local media reported. Xiaohongshu is a TikTok-like platform with integrated shopping features, and Taiwan’s internet service providers have been ordered to block the app, affecting at least three million users domestically.
Taiwan confirmed that some users attempting to access the app are now greeted with a message citing security restrictions. Authorities said the ban comes after the app failed to meet local data security standards and did not respond to requests to submit a plan to improve cybersecurity. The app has no local office in Taiwan.
Launched in 2013, Xiaohongshu has hundreds of millions of users globally and has grown in popularity this year among US users seeking alternatives to TikTok with potential bans. Taiwan’s move also reflects growing concerns over Beijing’s use of social media to influence public opinion and spread disinformation.
China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control. The Chinese platform has faced regulatory pressure in its home market as well, with authorities in September calling for strict penalties against the company’s leadership over negative posts.
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