The National Security Bureau (NSB) revealed in its latest analysis that disinformation cases in Taiwan nearly doubled in 2024 compared to the previous year, with Facebook remaining the primary platform for such activities.
According to the NSB report, controversial information cases reached 2.159 million in 2024, up from 1.329 million in 2023. The analysis points to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as the main source, targeting Taiwan's military credibility, US support, and President William Lai.
Social media platforms saw substantial increases in disinformation:
- Facebook: 40% increase
- Video platforms: 151% increase
- Forums: 664% increase
- X (formerly Twitter): 244% increase
The bureau identified 28,216 questionable accounts across platforms, with Facebook hosting 21,967 of them. Notable increases were also observed on TikTok, X, and China's Douyin, suggesting young internet users as primary targets.
The NSB outlined six main CCP tactics:
- Flooding social media to influence voter behavior
- Impersonating Taiwanese officials and users
- Using military exercises for propaganda
- Deploying AI-generated deepfakes
- Co-opting media accounts as propaganda proxies
- Creating fake multilingual news outlets
In response, Taiwan implemented countermeasures, including reporting 3,900 disinformation cases to government agencies and organizing over 100 international exchange events to share expertise with allied nations.
The bureau emphasized that this cognitive warfare through internet platforms and AI technology represents a concern beyond Taiwan's borders, affecting democratic systems worldwide.