Taiwan is at the forefront of combating disinformation, notably from China, with initiatives like MyGoPen and Taiwan FactCheck Center leading the charge. The country faces evolving challenges, including the use of AI for spreading falsehoods, but also leverages AI for efficient fact-checking. The fight against disinformation highlights the need for continual adaptation and public education.
Taiwan’s Fight Against Disinformation and AI Challenges
Taiwan has emerged as a prime target for disinformation campaigns, largely attributed to China. According to the University of Gothenburg’s Varieties of Democracy project, Taiwan faces more disinformation from abroad than any other democracy, especially during election periods.
Charles Yeh, a Taiwanese engineer, began countering disinformation in 2015 when he launched MyGoPen, a fact-checking platform. The initiative followed a personal experience where his mother-in-law was misled by false information about green onions. MyGoPen has since grown to over 400,000 subscribers and handles approximately 1.3 million fact-check requests annually.
Other organizations like Taiwan FactCheck Center, Cofacts, and DoubleThink Lab have also joined the fight. DoubleThink Lab monitors China’s influence in 82 countries, ranking Taiwan as the most affected in terms of societal and media influence.
Disinformation campaigns from China have evolved. For example, a video purportedly showing retaliation by Chinese fishing vessels was debunked by MyGoPen as outdated footage. Beijing’s strategies now often involve more indirect methods, such as exploiting global conflicts to shape opinions.
Artificial intelligence adds another layer of complexity. A Thomson Foundation report on the 2024 presidential election in Taiwan highlighted the use of deep fakes and AI-generated voices. Eva Chiu of Taiwan FactCheck Center described AI’s development as “unstoppable,” noting its role in disseminating election-related falsehoods.
Despite the challenges, AI also aids fact-checkers by improving efficiency in verifying information. Yeh stresses the importance of adapting to new disinformation tactics and educating the public, emphasizing that while methods may evolve, the objective to deceive remains constant.
