Taiwan suspends RedNote for one year

The Taiwanese government has suspended the operation of the Chinese social media platform RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu, for a period of one year.

Authorities said the decision follows investigations into widespread commercial fraud linked to the platform.

Millions lost through illegal online activities

Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau reported that it recorded more than 1,700 fraud-related cases connected to RedNote within one year.

These cases caused financial losses estimated at over $7 million, prompting the government to take decisive action.

Popular platform with e-commerce features

RedNote operates in a format similar to TikTok. It combines short videos with online shopping features.

Before the suspension, the platform had more than three million users in Taiwan, making it one of the island’s most popular social media applications.

Platform no longer accessible in Taiwan

A BBC verification confirmed that RedNote is no longer functional in Taiwan.

Users attempting to access the app receive a message stating that the service has been blocked for security reasons.

About Xiaohongshu

Xiaohongshu was founded in 2013 and has grown into a major global platform, especially popular across Asian countries.

The app focuses on lifestyle content, product reviews, and social commerce.

Political tensions add sensitivity

China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory, while Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state.

This long-standing political tension has increased scrutiny of Chinese digital platforms operating on the island.

Taiwanese authorities have repeatedly expressed concerns about data security, foreign influence, and illegal online activities linked to such platforms.