On March 11, the New Taipei City government ordered the platform to be blocked due to concerns about the distribution of non-consensual explicit content. The move quickly attracted public attention and sparked widespread discussion in online communities.
However, less than 24 hours after the block went into effect, the website reportedly returned under a new domain. She even took to social media to poke fun at the situation, posting a message questioning why her traffic in Taiwan had suddenly increased by 50% compared to the previous week, joking that her servers were struggling to keep up.
The ironic increase in traffic led many netizens to comment that the block had unintentionally acted as free advertising. Some joked that the authorities had “helped promote” the site, while others pointed out that media coverage may have stimulated curiosity and increased visits. Comments ranged from humor – such as users joking about server overload – to criticism of how such enforcement actions can sometimes backfire.
In response, Taiwan’s Minister of Health and Welfare, Shih Chung-liang, confirmed that the case involved reports of non-consensual content distribution. He explained that the government relies on a reporting mechanism, in which complaints are forwarded to the iWIN Internet Content Protection Agency, which then enforces blocks on offending platforms.
He added that if such sites reappear after being blocked, authorities will continue to take action, including the possibility of harsher sanctions. Officials are also working with the Ministry of Digital Affairs to explore more effective long-term solutions.
The incident highlights the current challenges governments face in regulating online platforms, particularly those operating across borders. It also raises questions about the unintended consequences of enforcement actions in the digital age, where attempts to limit access can sometimes amplify visibility instead.
Sources: Yahoo News
