TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Digital Affairs on Thursday banned China’s Amap app from government agencies over cybersecurity concerns, with the Ministry of National Defense following suit.
The ministry said the app is classified under the Cybersecurity Management Act as a product endangering national information security and is prohibited for government use, with a risk assessment to be released in May, per CNA. It added that the app displays traffic-light countdowns on some roads in Taiwan despite not being integrated with local systems, raising concerns over how it handles location and movement data.
Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said authorities will conduct risk assessments on Amap and other apps with potential cybersecurity risks. She added that government agencies will be barred from using them if they pose a significant threat to national security.
Cabinet Spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said restrictions on high-risk digital products have been in place since 2019, reported CNA. She said relevant agencies are conducting inspections and risk assessments of Amap, while urging the public to remain vigilant and avoid downloading Chinese-made apps that pose security risks.
Administration for Cyber Security Director-General Tsai Fu-lung (蔡福隆) said the National Institute of Cyber Security will conduct testing on Amap, with findings expected to be released in mid-May. He said the app is already classified as a high-risk product under updated cybersecurity laws and is banned from government use.
Tsai said Chinese law allows authorities to access corporate data, with companies and users required to comply. He warned that Amap involves location and movement data that could be transmitted to servers in China and potentially accessed by authorities, urging the public to avoid using it.
He added that the app is mainly used by Taiwanese businesspeople and travelers to China. However, he cautioned against its use in Taiwan due to risks of exposing sensitive locations and tracking data.
Asked by lawmakers about national security implications, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said Chinese satellites already pass over fixed military positions daily, per CNA. He said the armed forces account for such surveillance by selecting concealed and tactically suitable positions.
Koo said the defense ministry will follow the digital ministry’s policy and ban the use of apps with cybersecurity risks. He added that the order will apply to all service members, including on personal devices.
