On 16 December 2023, CNN reported that Taiwan is stepping up efforts to combat a flood of disinformation from China, especially in the lead-up to its presidential election. Taiwan, with a population of 23.5 million, is facing intensified false information attacks, including unscientific Covid-19 treatments and political misinformation. A key tool in Taiwan’s defense is Auntie Meiyu, a chatbot integrated into Taiwan’s most popular messaging app, Line, which fact-checks and refutes false claims. The escalation of disinformation from China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, is particularly concerning during the election period. Taiwan’s intelligence community has warned of China’s concerted efforts to influence the upcoming election, favoring opposition candidates through a mix of disinformation, military, and economic tactics. These include operating fake social media accounts and content farms, as well as funding local news organizations that subtly support China-friendly narratives. Taiwan’s security officials also raise concerns over potential “false flag” operations by China, which could justify military actions against Taiwan. Amid these challenges, Taiwanese authorities and news verification groups, like the Taiwan FactCheck Center, emphasize the importance of news literacy and fact-checking mechanisms to uphold the island’s democratic integrity.
ChinaDecember 29 2023, 4:56 am
Taiwan Counters China’s Disinformation Campaign Ahead of Presidential Election
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