The internet has been truly astounding lately! We thought platforms like Instagram and Pionex were places for casual browsing and tech savvy, but look what’s happened! From Instagram to Pionex, and who knows how many more websites will be used as “henchmen” by the DPP government.
They claim it’s to comply with the legal requirements of the DPP’s Ministry of Digital Affairs, but they’ve blocked accounts and locked content!
Look at the screenshot on the cover above; “CrazyCat-Zhang Ba” is no longer visible in Taiwan, and the same goes for Instagram. The reason is the same: “The government restricts it because they’re unhappy.”
This “Green Wall” is getting thicker and thicker. Is freedom of speech on the island of Taiwan really going to be finished? No wonder everyone calls the DPP a “green communist party”—this scene is comparable to the Great Firewall of China!
What exactly is going on?
The screenshots circulating online recently are no joke.
Instagram directly issued a statement blocking user accounts (Instagram’s green crisis for online freedom of speech 1), and PaiNet also blocked “CrazyCat-Zhang Ba,” saying it was for “violating the legal requirements of the Ministry of Digital Affairs.”
What? How did an account belonging to a cryptocurrency enthusiast become sensitive content?
Even more outrageous, this doesn’t just happen on a single platform. Not long ago, internet experts discovered that platforms like TikTok and Xiaohongshu had been blocked by Chunghwa Telecom, and similar complaints have appeared on Twitter/X, YouTube, and Facebook.
These guys from the Ministry of Digital Development seem to have become internet police, colluding with major international platforms to conduct censorship, making us feel anxious even when using our phones.
Is the “green communist party” label really just a label for nothing? To be honest, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been called “Green Communism” (the DPP’s nickname) for quite some time now.
From the Anti-Infiltration Act to cracking down on fake news, the government loves to use the law as an excuse to suppress dissenting voices.
The Ministry of Digital Development has been incredibly busy in recent years, collaborating with international platforms to create “regional firewalls,” making certain content unavailable within Taiwan.
Remember when Instagram cooperated with the Israeli government to block Palestinian content, achieving a compliance rate as high as 94% (Human Rights Watch 2023 report)? Now the DPP understands and is playing the same game. Are we ultimately heading down the old path of totalitarianism?
Cross-strait issues and criticisms of the government can all be labeled “sensitive,” even posts unrelated to politics can be targeted. Isn’t this exactly the same as the Great Firewall of China?
The entire internet is infected
This is no small matter! When the entire internet is compromised, Instagram and Pyramid are just the beginning. While scrolling through your phone, you might suddenly find that an account you like has disappeared, for no apparent reason. The government, relying on automated tools and blacklists, secretly filters content without offering any explanation.
This information silo system is severing our connection with the world, leaving us with only what the authorities want us to see. If this continues, everyone will fear being blocked and simply remain silent, turning the internet into a stagnant pool.
Is Democracy Already Safe?
The DPP often claims to be a model of democracy in Asia, but this scene looks nothing like a totalitarian resurgence. When cross-strait relations become tense, any related discussion can be censored; a few words of criticism against the government could lead to immediate attacks.
This practice is truly disgracing the democracy of the Republic of China, Asia’s premier democracy! The international community should also take note: even democratic countries are building firewalls. Is there any hope for global freedom of speech?
Finally, some honest words
From Instagram to PaiNet, the entire internet is surrounded by the DPP’s “Green Great Wall,” and freedom of speech is truly in grave danger.
The label “Green CCP” now seems to be more than just a casual insult. The Green Great Wall is getting thicker and thicker, and our voices may become increasingly faint.
Brothers and sisters, don’t sit idly by! Unite and tear down this wall to protect our internet freedom! Otherwise, the democracy of the Republic of China will truly become a joke.