TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP, 民進黨) Department of China Affairs (中國部) urged the public on Thursday (July 10) to heighten their awareness of information security, cautioning against downloading high-risk Chinese apps. The department emphasized checking mobile permissions to prevent personal data leaks.
The National Security Bureau (國安局) recently flagged five popular Chinese apps — RedNote (小紅書), Weibo (微博), TikTok (抖音), WeChat (微信), and Baidu Cloud (百度雲盤) — for severe violations. Their cybersecurity assessments revealed that RedNote collects sensitive data such as facial features, location, and contacts and transmits it back to Chinese servers, making it the most egregious offender.
Weibo and TikTok were found to extensively screenshot and copy users' clipboard content, while WeChat and Baidu Cloud collected users' location and device data without consent. DPP's Department of China Affairs warned that these apps not only infringe on user privacy but also pose a threat to Taiwan's national security, potentially being used by Chinese intelligence for cognitive warfare and precise surveillance.
The department highlighted China's longstanding attempts to infiltrate Taiwanese society, highlighting that digital information intrusion is a key method. The international community has recognized the high cybersecurity risks associated with Chinese apps, with countries like the U.S., Canada, the U.K., India, and the European Union implementing strict controls or bans.