TikTok a national security risk
A deepfake video of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) recently spread on TikTok and Line in Taiwan. Ker filed a complaint with the authorities and urged the public not to share the video.
TikTok is a tool for cognitive warfare by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and it has escalated its efforts. While the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) camps in the legislature passed three controversial bills, Ker held a news conference criticizing the KMT and TPP for endangering the nation and disrupting governance.
Meanwhile, a video with simplified Chinese subtitles, a Chinese-accented voiceover and content slandering the ruling DPP appeared on TikTok. Although those with discerning eyes could immediately recognize it as a fake, its provocative nature, rapid release and intent to mislead are alarming.
Taiwan should take the influence of TikTok seriously and observe how other countries regulate the platform. The US and EU have banned the use of TikTok on government devices due to concerns user data collected by the platform could be transmitted to the Chinese government, posing a threat to national security. The UK found that TikTok breached data privacy laws and might have improperly used data from young users. For security reasons, it has also banned TikTok on government devices. India banned TikTok due to its content inciting social unrest, promoting violence and negatively affecting mental health. Albania announced a one-year ban on TikTok that started on Saturday, citing concerns over the harmful effects of violent videos on teenagers.
The main argument against a ban is that it could harm freedom of speech in democratic countries. However, the CCP is exploiting the shield of free speech to undermine democracies. Taiwan should prioritize national security over freedom of speech, as freedom cannot exist without a secure nation.
Moreover, freedom of speech does not equate to unrestricted use of technology. Allowing TikTok to freely exploit user data in Taiwan creates significant vulnerabilities in national security and individual privacy.
Social media is not limited to TikTok — Taiwan offers a diverse range of alternatives, such as Instagram, Threads and YouTube. The reasons to ban TikTok go beyond its role as a tool for CCP political warfare. Its negative impact on mental health and the spread of misinformation undermine Taiwan’s stability and serve as evidence for international restrictions on TikTok. Taiwan must take decisive action to incorporate a TikTok ban into its long-term strategy for sustainable security.
Chan Jen-hsin
Taoyuan
Trying to force a partnership between Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) and Intel Corp would be a wildly complex ordeal. Already, the reported request from the Trump administration for TSMC to take a controlling stake in Intel’s US factories is facing valid questions about feasibility from all sides. Washington would likely not support a foreign company operating Intel’s domestic factories, Reuters reported — just look at how that is going over in the steel sector. Meanwhile, many in Taiwan are concerned about the company being forced to transfer its bleeding-edge tech capabilities and give up its strategic advantage. This is especially
US President Donald Trump’s second administration has gotten off to a fast start with a blizzard of initiatives focused on domestic commitments made during his campaign. His tariff-based approach to re-ordering global trade in a manner more favorable to the United States appears to be in its infancy, but the significant scale and scope are undeniable. That said, while China looms largest on the list of national security challenges, to date we have heard little from the administration, bar the 10 percent tariffs directed at China, on specific priorities vis-a-vis China. The Congressional hearings for President Trump’s cabinet have, so far,
US President Donald Trump last week announced plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on eight countries. As Taiwan, a key hub for semiconductor manufacturing, is among them, the policy would significantly affect the country. In response, Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) dispatched two officials to the US for negotiations, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) board of directors convened its first-ever meeting in the US. Those developments highlight how the US’ unstable trade policies are posing a growing threat to Taiwan. Can the US truly gain an advantage in chip manufacturing by reversing trade liberalization? Is it realistic to
The US Department of State has removed the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” in its updated Taiwan-US relations fact sheet, which instead iterates that “we expect cross-strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the Strait.” This shows a tougher stance rejecting China’s false claims of sovereignty over Taiwan. Since switching formal diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China in 1979, the US government has continually indicated that it “does not support Taiwan independence.” The phrase was removed in 2022
RSS