China could use TikTok to influence young people in Taiwan, particularly in a prewar or wartime scenario, experts in information said during a seminar in Taipei on Tuesday about Beijing’s propaganda efforts targeting Taiwan.
“We believe TikTok poses a significant national security risk during the gray zone period,” said Lee Chih-te (李志德), former chief of the disbanded Asia Fact Check Lab, citing findings from interviews and research.
The “gray zone” period Lee referred to is a phase characterized by coercive actions — such as disinformation operations and military intimidation — by China that fall short of open conflict with Taiwan.
Photo: Reuters
Speaking at a seminar held by Academia Sinica’s Institute of Sociology, Lee said that in March last year, TikTok launched a large-scale campaign targeting its users in the US, just as then-US president Joe Biden backed legislation requiring the Chinese parent company of the short-form video app to divest its US operations or face a ban.
“When users in the US opened TikTok on their phones, everyone received the same message — asking them to call their congressional representatives, say they needed TikTok, and urge them to oppose the legislation,” Lee said.
That incident showed that TikTok has the ability to mobilize users, he said.
“I have no doubt that, when needed, TikTok users in Taiwan could one day open the app and see messages claiming that Taiwan’s military has already surrendered,” Lee said.
He added that other possible messages could urge people to refuse military service by claiming that multiple regions had already fallen.
Lee, a veteran journalist, said such a scenario could “very well happen during the gray zone period,” particularly when combined with footage of active-duty Taiwanese military personnel waving China’s national flag while in uniform on military bases — material uncovered during recent espionage investigations in Taiwan.
Taiwan needs to have the technical means and legal tools in place to respond to such scenarios, he said, adding that if authorities allow this to continue in the name of Internet freedom, the country could be caught unprepared when such an incident occurs.
Eric Hsu (徐葆權), a researcher at Doublethink Lab — a non-governmental organization that studies Chinese influence operations — also addressed TikTok’s impact on young Taiwanese, presenting findings from a qualitative study published in May that drew on in-depth interviews with 16 Tiktok users aged 15 to 18.
It was observed that users on TikTok continue to push political content in implicit ways, embedding narratives that imply “unification would have little impact on Taiwan,” according to the report.
Among the interviewees, some believed that the lifestyles of people in Taiwan and China are not that different, “so even if unification happened, it might not have much impact on ordinary people like themselves,” he said.
“One interviewee said that the only one who might end up unlucky was [President] William Lai (賴清德),” Hsu added.
Explaining such a mindset, Hsu said China likely recognizes that it is relatively difficult to get people in Taiwan to voluntarily give up their Taiwanese identity or abandon democratic values.
“Their goal has always been to pave the way for unification by creating the perception that it would be a painless process,” 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