The primary goal of responding to China’s “united front” propaganda on social media should be to expose intermediaries so they face public scrutiny, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) said.
The statement came in response to Taiwanese rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源) exposing methods the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses to bribe Taiwanese influencers to promote its propaganda in a video produced by YouTuber “Pa Chiung (八炯)” that was published online on Friday.
Commenting on the matter, Shen on Saturday said the government should establish mechanisms to respond to online propaganda, so the public can report influencers’ “united front” activities.
Photo: CNA
This would increase public awareness and reduce the harm caused by influencers’ propaganda, he said.
Regulations imposed by tracking cash flow to influencers could be quickly circumvented, Shen said.
China could instead use virtual currencies or underground exchanges between Chinese and international platforms to avoid detection, he said.
For example, influencers could create pro-China videos on YouTube while “selling products” on Douyin, he said. While the cash flow should be investigated, the primary goal should be to identify “united front” intermediaries, including travel agencies, gangsters, academics, businesspeople and even legislators and public servants, he said.
Without these intermediaries, it would be much harder for China to engage with Taiwan’s public, he added.
China’s primary method of recruiting Taiwanese influencers is by attracting pro-China supporters to specific content and using Alipay or WeChat for donations, Kuma Academy chief executive officer and Taiwan National Security Institute deputy secretary-general Ho Cheng-hui (何澄輝) said.
Influencers need not visit China, but can post videos with donation QR codes on social media platforms and circulate them through closed communities like Line groups, Ho said.
It is very difficult to track online cash flows, he added.
However, if platforms take responsibility for revealing “united front” propaganda that is disguised as neutral and objective content, the public can develop the ability to recognize it, weakening its influence, he added.
In recent years, China’s “united front” efforts have had two main aspects, Taiwan Thinktank China Research Center director Wu Se-chih (吳瑟致) said.
The first is expanding China-friendly forces in Taiwan, such as the group of Chinese students associated with the CCP invited to Taiwan for a visit by the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, Wu said.
The second is using influencers, as they can reach a wide audience and online freedom of speech shields them from legal issues, as long as there are no personal attacks, he said.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS