Chinese App RedNote Banned In Taiwan — Citing Fraud Concerns
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Summary: Taiwan blocks access to the popular Chinese RedNote (known in China as Xiaohongshu) used by millions of people around the world.
Taiwan has declared that it will ban access to RedNote, a Chinese social media and lifestyle app, for one year. This action is aimed at preventing fraud and major data security breaches.
Since 2024, Taiwan's law enforcement and fraud prevention agencies have documented more than 1,700 scams related to RedNote transactions and activities. Victims said they lost more than NT$247.68 million, which is about US$7.9 million.
In a comprehensive cybersecurity audit, RedNote reportedly failed all 15 security indicators — covering data collection practices, device-permission overreach, data transmission protocols, biometric data access, and system-information extraction.
The government argued that because RedNote does not comply with Taiwan’s legal and regulatory framework — and lacks a local office or legal representative — fraud investigations have been hampered.
Under the order, all Taiwanese Internet Service Providers (ISPs) must block access to RedNote. The blockade aims to prevent more than 3 million Taiwanese users from logging in or using the app while the ban is in effect.
Officials said the ban is provisional. Its continuation beyond one year will depend on whether RedNote’s parent company cooperates with Taiwanese authorities and takes concrete steps to meet local data-security and legal compliance standards.
This isn’t the first time Taiwan has flagged Chinese apps. Back in mid-2025, its top intelligence agency — National Security Bureau (NSB) — warned users against several Chinese social-media platforms (including RedNote, Douyin, WeChat, and others) for “excessive data collection, unauthorised permissions and data transfers to China.” RedNote reportedly failed every security benchmark in that review.
The NSB warned that such apps could access sensitive data — including location, contacts, clipboard content, system files, biometric information, and even device parameters — and potentially send this information back to servers in China.
Given the legal obligations under Chinese law for companies to share user data with authorities when requested for state security or intelligence purposes, Taiwan sees continued use of such apps as a potential threat to both individual privacy and national security.
