Taiwan has ordered a one‑year block on the Chinese social media app known internationally as RedNote (Xiaohongshu), after authorities linked the platform to a sharp rise in online fraud and determined it failed to meet the country’s cybersecurity standards. The ban affects an estimated three million users across the island, as Internet service providers implement technical measures to cut access immediately.
According to Taiwanese regulators, the decision came after the island’s Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) recorded more than 1,700 fraud complaints tied to RedNote over the past year, with total losses reaching nearly $8 million. The app reportedly hosted a range of scams — including deceptive shopping platforms, fraudulent installment‑payment schemes, fake investment pitches, romance scams, and illicit solicitations. Authorities said many cases involved victims across wide demographics, underscoring the danger posed by the online fraud network operating through RedNote.
Beyond financial crime, the Taiwanese Interior Ministry cited structural problems with the app’s security practices. In a recent cybersecurity evaluation, RedNote failed all 15 of the government’s criteria for acceptable data protection and platform safety. Regulators further criticized the app’s Shanghai‑based parent company for failing to establish a legal presence in Taiwan or respond to repeated requests for cooperation. The government said this lack of accountability and responsiveness made it impossible to guarantee user safety or enforce consumer protections.
Deputy Interior Minister Ma Shih‑yuan described the one-year suspension as a necessary “cooling-off” period, giving investigators time to complete their criminal probes, allow victims a chance to seek compensation, and assess whether the operator will comply with Taiwan’s legal requirements. Authorities said they will continue monitoring the situation, and the ban could be lifted only if RedNote’s operators take substantive steps to meet Taiwan’s laws — including establishing local legal representation, improving cybersecurity protections, and cooperating fully with fraud and data‑safety investigations.
The move marks one of the most decisive regulatory actions taken by Taiwan in recent years against a Chinese technology platform. It reflects growing concern over the combination of rampant scam activity, user data vulnerabilities, and cross-strait tensions — especially given suspicions that some apps may be used for influence operations beyond mere commerce.
For affected users, the suspension means immediate loss of access to the app and its social content. Officials advised former users to seek alternative platforms that comply with Taiwan’s cybersecurity rules and to delete RedNote from their devices. For now, the island is signaling a zero‑tolerance stance on unregulated foreign apps that fail to uphold user security and legal accountability.
