Campus networks are to restrict access to six Chinese apps deemed a security risk by the Ministry of Digital Affairs, the Ministry of Education said today.
The digital ministry last month announced that Douyin, TikTok (the international version of Douyin), Xiaohongshu (RedNote, 小紅書), Sina Weibo, WeChat and Baidu Cloud are information security risks, urging the public to protect their digital safety.
The Ministry of Education in a news conference today referenced the warning in its announcement, adding that TikTok has been fined by multiple countries for harmful content.
Photo: Reuters
The education ministry is to ban these six apps from being downloaded, installed or used on official devices and restrict access to them on TANet and iTaiwan hotspots on campuses and ministry agencies, it said.
TANet is provided free to students and teachers by the Ministry of Education. iTaiwan includes more than 9,000 hotspots nationwide and is run by the Ministry of Digital Affairs.
The decision is part of the Ministry of Education’s work to protect Internet networks on school campuses according to the Cyber Security Management Act (資通安全管理法) and Child and Juvenile Welfare and Rights Protection Act (兒童及少年福利與權益保障法), Deputy Minister of Education Chu Chun-chang (朱俊彰) said.
The ministry has protected campus networks from inappropriate content on a regular basis since 2014, Chu said.
Schools should not use any high-risk apps in learning activities to ensure all teaching materials are appropriate, the Ministry of Education said.
The ministry referenced two databases on its media and literary education Web site that teachers can use in class, one on Xiaohongshu and the other on shorts.
It is important to care for young people’s mental health during education and guide them on having the right balance between the online and physical worlds, Chu said.
The ministry would continue working with schools and parents to create a better learning and growing environment for young people, he said.
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