Taiwan's Xiaohongshu restrictions cut scam cases sharply
Taiwan says blocking access to the Chinese app Xiaohongshu has cut fraud sharply — good news for consumers, and a fresh flashpoint with Beijing.
- Scam cases tied to the app fell about 80% and money lost fell more than half after Taiwan restricted it in late 2025.
- Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office attacked the move as stripping young people of freedom; Taiwan's ruling DPP called that hypocritical.
- Taiwan's argument: the app refused to help with fraud investigations while enjoying open access to the market.
- China itself blocks Google, YouTube, Facebook and LINE, which undercuts its complaint about censorship.
- The bigger worry is data collection and a recommendation system nobody outside the company can inspect.
Outlook: Expect Taiwan to keep tightening rules on Chinese apps, with more angry pushback from Beijing but little change on the ground.