Chinese disinformation targets both the Taiwan and U.S. elections.

Dec. 2, 2023

Taipei, Taiwan

 

In Taiwan, one of the first things you notice now is how high the stakes are in this upcoming election. It’s being seen as a test of the ability of Taiwan’s society to overcome the problems of the past, and, in light of China’s increasing authoritarian efforts to control the affairs of East Asia, also the Taiwanese election is a continuation of the democratization process that began in the 1990’s.  That’s when the first free elections were held, ending one-party rule by the KMT.  Around that time, the U.S. sent an aircraft carrier into the Taiwan Strait to counter aggression by the Chinese toward this free election.  That, the conclusion of the Taiwan Strait Crisis, highlights ties that still exist in the region. 

Some cooperation and shared fate still exists between the United States and Taiwan over the issue of elections.  For example, while Taiwanese investigators probe deepfake elections scams, the National Security Bureau hires AI operators to fight election interference, and a new wave of disinformation coming from China heads into the country, several thousand fake social media accounts were closed by Meta for trying to interfere in the U.S. election.  The fates of Taiwan, the U.S. and several major democracies are tied together in this. 

Police probe ‘deepfake’ blackmail scam - Taipei Times

NSB to hire AI talent to fight foreign interference - Taipei Times

New disinformation wave heads across Strait: NYT - Taipei Times

Meta closes fake accounts from China - Taipei Times