Taiwan security agency flags surge in China-linked disinformation ahead of local elections
Content covers energy, food security, defense and local election candidates, while government agencies face an average of about 2.58 million cyberattacks a day
Taiwan’s National Security Bureau said controversial or false online content originating from China increased significantly in the first nine months of 2026, covering issues including energy, food security, defense policy and local election candidates. With Taiwan’s local elections approaching in November, the impact of online information operations on public debate and voters’ judgment has again come under scrutiny.
According to a Reuters report published Oct. 21, the bureau said it detected more than 2.5 million pieces of controversial or false online content from China in the first nine months of 2026, up about 48% from roughly 1.69 million during the same period last year.
The bureau said the content covered energy policy, food security, defense and local election candidates. It said the operations may use state media, content farms, fake accounts, AI-generated videos and coordinated online comments to amplify selected messages.
The report also said the bureau had found AI tools being used to track Taiwan’s political issues, candidates’ policies and polling information. The content appeared mainly on Facebook, Threads, YouTube and online forums.
The bureau additionally said government agencies face an average of about 2.58 million cyberattacks a day, with the number of detected threats rising in July and August this year. It said the situation could be linked to the risks of information operations during the election period.
However, the number of cyberattacks and pieces of false information does not necessarily mean that all such incidents were orchestrated by the same actor. Nor can any individual message be deemed an intentional attempt to interfere in the elections solely on the basis of its origin or viewpoint. Such allegations should be assessed through verifiable technical evidence, investigative findings and specific cases.
China has previously denied allegations that it interferes in Taiwan’s elections or spreads false information. Taiwan continues to monitor the impact of online content on social trust and democratic processes.
During election periods, media literacy, verifying information sources and greater platform transparency are important measures for reducing the impact of inaccurate information. Before forwarding unverified content, readers should compare it with official announcements, reliable media reports and original sources to avoid helping false information spread further.