As elections approach in any country, disinformation campaigns are becoming a norm. But what happens when it’s one country trying to subvert the results of another? That’s what Taiwan is currently facing as it prepares for its January 11th election.
The Taiwanese government and voters are warning of an increasing flood of false information coming out of mainland China that is designed to affect the election. Chinese state-run media outlets have been publishing disinformation to foster mistrust in the Taiwanese government and to incite public anger and hostility. This includes false claims about local politicians, economic issues, and anti-Chinese sentiment.
The Taiwanese government is pushing back with a variety of tactics. They are working to shut down online rumors and false information by flagging and debunking false social media accounts, warning users of potential disinformation, and sending out rapid response teams to combat misinformation. They are also leveraging technology to quickly identify and take down accounts identified by the authorities.
In addition, Taiwanese media outlets are increasing their efforts to fact-check and vet news reports in order to combat false information. They are beginning to dedicate more resources to fact-checking and to create and share multi-media campaigns that offer reliable information on current events.
Finally, the Taiwanese government is partnering with academia and social media companies to better understand the origins of false information and to better understand current public sentiment and anxieties. This will improve their ability to detect disinformation early and to respond appropriately.
It’s clear from these efforts that Taiwan is taking the fight against disinformation seriously. They are doing all they can to make sure their upcoming election is not undermined by false information coming from hostile media sources. In a world fraught with digital warfare, Taiwan is showing the world how to protect democracy and safeguard democratic processes.