TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Several political parties gathered in the nation’s capital Friday (May 10) to call for a government ban on TikTok in Taiwan.
Representatives from the Taiwan Statebuilding Party (TSP), New Power Party (NPP), Green Party, and Economic Democracy Union, held a press conference at the Legislative Yuan calling for a “Taiwan version of the TikTok Act," according to a TVBS report.
NPP Chair Claire Wang (王婉諭) said research had shown the TikTok algorithm minimized exposure of negative news about China. She called for a Taiwan TikTok Act modeled on the U.S. version.
Additionally, Wang called on the Ministry of Digital Affairs to investigate TikTok and determine the scope of its influence and threat, per a RTI report.
The internationally popular social media app is ultimately owned by China’s ByteDance, which follows state law and has a committee of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members on board. This has led to fears in Taiwan and elsewhere about China’s ability to peddle its narratives and influence elections or popular opinion.
India banned TikTok in 2020. Last month the U.S. enacted a “TikTok Act” — officially referred to as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act — that would ban the company unless it divests from parent ByteDance within a year,
In Taiwan, TikTok was deemed a “national security threat” in March. Before that, it was banned by Taiwan government agencies. There have also been calls for bans at schools and other government-related institutions.
