In December 2025, Taiwan announced a one-year restriction on the use of Xiaohongshu, a popular Chinese social media app, citing a surge in scams targeting Taiwanese users and the platform’s alleged lack of cooperation with law enforcement investigations. According to Taiwan authorities, the platform’s failure to provide necessary data has made it difficult for police to investigate fraud cases.
Taiwanese authorities reported that during the eight months following the restriction, Xiaohongshu-related fraud cases fell from 525 to 145, while reported financial losses declined from approximately NT$98.9 million (US$3.12 million) to NT$33.88 million (US$1.07 million).
The issue, however, extends beyond fraud. Xiaohongshu is one of China’s most popular social media platforms, particularly among young people, and has gained a growing following in Taiwan. Users share content about food, travel, shopping, and everyday life, making the platform an unusual channel for people-to-people interaction across the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, Taiwan has become increasingly concerned about the potential risks posed by Chinese social media platforms, including data security, information manipulation, and political influence.
Source: Radio Free Asia, September 4, 2026
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/zhengzhi/2026/09/04/xiaohongshu-taiwan-ban-data-controversy/