‘INTERNET ARMY’: After interfering in Hong Kong, Beijing has extended its hands into Taiwanese elections by seeking control over local online platforms, academics said

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 06, 2018
By: Chen Yu-fu and Sherry Hsiao  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer

Academics urged the government to take action against China’s use of misinformation to interfere in the Nov. 24 nine-in-one local elections and Taiwanese politics, with one suggesting that “anti-united front” legislation be drafted.

There is no doubt that China has an “Internet army,” Taiwan Think Tank consultant Tung Li-wen (董立文) said.

US President Donald Trump’s administration has accused the Chinese government of using its Internet army to interfere in the US midterm elections, and now, Beijing is directing its Internet army to meddle in local elections and to attack the government and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with a barrage of misinformation, he said.

The US and Germany have introduced legislation to stop the spread of misinformation, while, France, India, and the UK have formed parliamentary committees to respond to such tactics, he said.    [FULL  STORY]