The National Security Bureau should investigate the source of funding for influencers and key opinion leaders who post pro-China content that denigrates Taiwan, a researcher said on Monday last week.
A number of Taiwan-based content producers disseminate pro-China content and receive a significant income through donations, ad revenue and other sources, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology Institute of Financial and Economic Law director Lo Cheng-chung (羅承宗) said.
“Taiwan protects freedom of speech, regardless of whether you’re pro-unification or pro-independence. However, if that speech is in exchange for money, that’s recognized under law as commercial speech,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Kuma Academy
“If Taiwanese influencers are receiving money from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for political advertisement, the Taiwanese government is able to exercise control over that,” he said.
However, the tricky part would be for the government to prove that money was received for the purpose of disseminating Chinese propaganda, he added.
Security officials would have to trace unexplained increases in assets, and expenditures that are inconsistent with the content producer’s income, he said.
“What percentage of the donations of the top 10 content producers in Taiwan comes from China or some other country? If the majority is coming from outside Taiwan, then obviously that’s something that should be investigated,” he said.
China’s propaganda campaign is evolving and rarely involves use of traditional media, instead focusing on social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, he said, adding that videos posted there often contain disinformation.
“The CCP pays key opinion leaders to make dozens of videos on everyday topics, and then has them periodically slip in controversial content aimed at spreading its influence,” he said.
“They also don’t just use politics-focused key opinion leaders, they inject pro-China content into all types of channels including everything from celebrity gossip to travel and food-related channels,” he said.
Kuma Academy chief executive officer Ho Cheng-hui (何澄輝) said he also noticed increased CCP activity in social media, as well as evidence that the CCP is training Taiwanese content creators, and is using marketing companies to help it increase the number of Taiwanese followers these creators have.
“There have been reports that the CCP co-opts Taiwanese marketing companies to help it promote pro-China videos,” he said.
“It also uses social media to spread disinformation on key issues like elections in Taiwan, or Taiwan’s pandemic measures,” he said, adding that the government should ban TikTok and other Chinese platforms used by the CCP to spread propaganda.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man