Taiwan Bans Chinese App RedNote Over Cybersecurity Failure

The app’s Chinese owner does not have a legal presence in Taiwan and has ignored the Taiwan government’s communication, the island’s Interior Ministry said.

The Xiaohongshu app, also known as RedNote, is displayed on an iPhone screen in Los Angeles, on Jan. 17, 2025. Andy Bao /AP Photo

Taiwan’s government on Dec. 4 banned Chinese social media app RedNote, citing cybersecurity failure and widespread fraud on the platform.

The Instagram-like app, also known as Xiaohongshu in Chinese—meaning “little red book”—has more than 3 million users in Taiwan, or around one-eighth of the population. It also gained traction in the United States earlier this year when Washington warned of a possible TikTok ban.