A law recently passed in the U.S. banning the Chinese-owned app TikTok has prompted discussion on whether Taiwan should follow suit. The Taiwan Statebuilding Party (TSP), New Power Party (NPP), Economic Democracy Union, and Green Party held a press conference on Friday regarding the possibility.
U.S. President Joe Biden signed legislation in April that will ban TikTok unless Chinese internet technology company ByteDance sells its stake in the app within a year. NPP Chairwoman Claire Wang (王婉諭) suggested the Cabinet should draft a similar version of this bill in Taiwan.
Wang pointed out the U.S. bill was passed with broad support from Congress as part of an effort to protect national security, with the awareness that the Chinese government attempts to use its communications products and apps to infiltrate other countries, steal personal information, and influence user perception about China. She called on the Digital Affairs Ministry, National Security Bureau, and Legislature to investigate similar threats posed by TikTok in Taiwan.
TSP Chairman Wang Hsing-huan (王興煥) further added that managing digital platforms does not restrict freedom of speech, but rather protects it. On behalf of his party, he advocated for a review of the digital intermediary law.
