According to Central News Agency Taiwan, Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s Minister of Digital Affairs, has classified TikTok, a Chinese-owned social media platform, as a severe national security threat.
Tang emphasized that the platform’s association with foreign adversaries is consistent with the US perspective, which considers TikTok a possible threat to national security. Tang noted during a recent legislative meeting, “Taiwan has classified TikTok as a dangerous product.” According to Taiwanese norms, any product that can be controlled by foreign adversaries, either directly or indirectly, poses a threat to national information and communication security.
TikTok usage is already limited within Taiwanese government institutions and facilities
Taiwan’s move is similar to a trend in the United States. The US House of Representatives recently enacted legislation aimed at ByteDance, TikTok’s parent firm, setting it a deadline to relinquish its US holdings or face a nationwide ban. This legislation reflects Taiwan’s worry about foreign influence on internet platforms. Tang reported that Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) has suggested modifying the Cyber Security Management Act, reflecting concerns raised in the US House bill about indirect foreign interference. This amendment demonstrates Taiwan’s commitment to protecting its digital infrastructure from outsider intrusion.
TikTok usage is already limited within Taiwanese government institutions and facilities. Tang did, however, hint at the possibility of expanding the ban to schools, non-governmental organizations, and public venues, pending Cabinet approval. She highlighted that such a choice would necessitate a thorough analysis, taking into account legal processes as well as practical realities. “The final decision will be made by the Cabinet after extensive consideration of opinions in the various sectors,” the ministry said in a statement. It emphasized ongoing inter-ministerial meetings conducted by the Cabinet to solve this issue effectively.
Furthermore, the digital ministry expressed concern about the progress of the TikTok bill in the US Congress, suggesting a deep interest in foreign trends that shape digital security legislation. According to CNA Taiwan, any information and communication system or service with the potential to disrupt government operations or societal stability is classified as a product endangering national information and communication security under current regulations, which were established in 2019 and revised in 2022.