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The rising threat of cognitive warfare has become a critical challenge for democracies worldwide, with Taiwan emerging as a frontline state in this battle for hearts and minds. Social media platforms are increasingly weaponized to spread disinformation designed to mislead the public, interfere in elections, and undermine democratic institutions.
Taiwan, ranked by The Economist Intelligence Unit as the world’s 12th strongest democracy, faces relentless attacks through propaganda and disinformation campaigns. According to the V-Dem Institute, the island nation has topped the ranking for being targeted by “foreign governments’ dissemination of false information” for 11 consecutive years.
Digital platforms have become the primary news source for most Taiwanese citizens. In 2025, approximately 91 percent of Taiwan’s population has internet access, with active social media identities representing about 80 percent of the population—figures significantly above global averages.
While global platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are widely used, Taiwan-based Chinese-language platforms PTT and Dcard also command significant user bases. The Japan-based LINE messaging service enjoys particular popularity in Taiwan. These platforms have increasingly become vectors for sophisticated disinformation operations.
Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) reported a dramatic increase in “contentious messaging” attributed to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) influence operations. In 2024, authorities identified approximately 2.2 million instances of false or misleading information, far exceeding the 1.3 million documented in 2023. The use of online forums surged by 664 percent, while video-sharing platforms saw a 151 percent increase year-on-year.
The NSB also flagged 28,216 “abnormal” social media accounts that concealed user information, displayed unusual friend connections, or echoed CCP official positions. Facebook accounts constituted the majority of these suspicious profiles, though TikTok showed a sharp rise in such activity.
Disinformation campaigns frequently coincide with Chinese military exercises near Taiwan. When U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022, China responded with large-scale military drills encircling the island. This military posturing was accompanied by a flood of disinformation on social media.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense Political Warfare Bureau identified 272 separate false narratives between August 1-8, 2022, claiming Chinese military superiority and suggesting imminent invasion capabilities. These coordinated campaigns appeared to impact public perception, with polling showing an increase in Taiwanese citizens fearing an impending attack from 27 to 39 percent.
Similar tactics were deployed during China’s “Joint Sword-2024B” military exercise around Taiwan in October 2024. False claims circulated that a Taiwanese liquefied natural gas tanker had been blocked from entering Kaohsiung port by Chinese naval vessels. Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau quickly identified this as cognitive warfare, noting that the accounts originating these messages used proxy servers or hijacked surveillance cameras—tactics previously employed by “foreign cyber actors.”
The 2024 Taiwanese presidential election saw extensive deployment of social media disinformation, including deepfake technology targeting presidential candidate Lai Ching-te. Between January 10-16, 2024, 188 YouTube channels and 173 TikTok accounts posted nearly 900 videos alleging vote rigging, generating over 32 million views.
One coordinated campaign involved videos on TikTok claiming electoral fraud, all beginning with the same phrase: “I was shocked by something I just saw.” The independent Taiwan FactCheck Center (TFC), which had been monitoring electoral disinformation, rapidly debunked these claims and published 35 fact-checking reports during the election period.
Taiwan has developed a comprehensive approach to combat disinformation without resorting to widespread censorship. According to former Minister of Digital Affairs Audrey Tang, one key principle is publishing clarifications within 60 minutes before false narratives become entrenched. The government operates a “whole-of-government” mechanism with the NSB alerting relevant agencies to disinformation in their domain.
The government’s Breaking News Clarification platform issued responses to over 3,900 contentious messages in 2024. To extend reach beyond official channels, authorities collaborate with the LINE Fact Checker platform, which has processed over 800,000 user reports covering more than 30,000 suspicious messages.
Taiwan’s emphasis on fact-checking rather than content removal represents a distinctive approach compared to the European Union’s more regulatory stance. The EU has implemented measures like the Digital Services Act and the Code of Practice on Disinformation, which place greater responsibility on platforms to combat false information.
Public awareness in Taiwan has grown significantly, with surveys showing 95 percent of citizens believing they have been exposed to disinformation in 2024, up from 75 percent in 2022. More encouragingly, the proportion of citizens utilizing fact-checking mechanisms increased from 61 to 71 percent over a similar period.
As digital battlegrounds continue to evolve, Taiwan’s approach highlights that countering cognitive warfare requires not only rapid dissemination of factual counter-narratives but also building individual citizen’s capacity to identify and verify information. This balanced strategy helps maintain public debate that remains both free and factually grounded—a critical safeguard for democracies under digital siege.
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17 Comments
The rising threat of cognitive warfare is a global challenge, and Taiwan’s frontline position makes its lessons particularly relevant for the EU. Collaborating with Taiwan to develop comprehensive frameworks for countering disinformation could be a game-changer for the EU.
The EU’s efforts to enhance its digital resilience can greatly benefit from Taiwan’s pioneering work in this domain. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing between the two entities could lead to more effective countermeasures against disinformation threats.
Taiwan’s experience provides valuable lessons on the evolving nature of cognitive warfare. As the EU works to strengthen its digital resilience, understanding Taiwan’s approaches to monitoring, detecting, and responding to disinformation will be crucial.
Absolutely. The EU can benefit greatly from Taiwan’s pioneering work in this area and adapt their best practices to its own unique context.
Taiwan’s high internet and social media penetration rates highlight the importance of digital resilience. Strengthening digital literacy and media awareness among citizens will be crucial for the EU to counter foreign influence operations.
Agreed. The EU can learn from Taiwan’s whole-of-society approach to building digital resilience and combating disinformation.
Taiwan’s experience as a frontline democracy in the battle against cognitive warfare offers valuable insights for the EU. Adapting Taiwan’s strategies to the European context could significantly bolster the EU’s resilience to foreign influence operations.
As the EU works to safeguard its democratic processes, Taiwan’s experience in combating foreign-backed disinformation campaigns provides a valuable roadmap. Careful analysis and adaptation of Taiwan’s strategies could significantly strengthen the EU’s digital defenses.
It’s concerning to see Taiwan ranked as the top target for foreign governments’ dissemination of false information. The EU must stay vigilant and proactively develop robust frameworks to identify and counter such attacks on its institutions and citizens.
It’s alarming to see Taiwan targeted by foreign governments’ disinformation efforts for 11 consecutive years. The EU must act swiftly to enhance its digital defenses and safeguard the integrity of its democratic institutions.
The high usage of social media platforms in Taiwan highlights the need for robust content moderation and fact-checking mechanisms. The EU should closely collaborate with digital platforms to curb the spread of disinformation and protect its democratic processes.
Taiwan’s resilience in the face of relentless disinformation attacks is commendable. The EU should closely study Taiwan’s approaches to building societal and institutional resilience, as they offer valuable insights for strengthening the EU’s own digital defenses.
Interesting to see Taiwan’s resilience in the face of disinformation campaigns. As a frontline democracy, their experience offers valuable lessons for the EU on combating cognitive warfare and securing digital platforms.
While the threat of disinformation is global, Taiwan’s unique geopolitical position makes it a prime target. The EU should closely study Taiwan’s strategies and adapt them to its own context to enhance its democratic defenses.
Taiwan’s resilience in the face of relentless disinformation campaigns is commendable. As the EU looks to strengthen its defenses, it should carefully study Taiwan’s whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches to build a comprehensive strategy.
Taiwan’s high internet and social media penetration rates highlight the urgency for the EU to address digital vulnerabilities. Strengthening digital literacy and empowering citizens to identify and counter disinformation should be a top priority.
Agreed. The EU should closely study Taiwan’s approaches to building societal resilience against disinformation and adapt them to its own unique context.