Audrey Tang: Taiwan’s First Digital Minister on Innovation and Democracy

In this interview with the HBS Institute for Business in Global Society, Taiwan’s first Minister of Digital Affairs Audrey Tang shares insights on digital democracy, civic technology, and innovation following her research presentation to Harvard Business School faculty. Tang discusses how Taiwan has pioneered new approaches to civic participation, transparency in governance, and technology-enabled democratic processes.

Interview highlights:
0:00 Introduction and background
2:15 Digital democracy initiatives in Taiwan
7:40 Public participation platforms in Taiwan
12:30 Radical transparency in governance
18:45 COVID-19 response and technology
24:10 Balancing innovation with digital rights
31:20 Lessons for other democracies
36:50 Future directions and challenges

The conversation explores Tang’s “radical transparency” approach that has reshaped Taiwan’s governance systems and created new methods for public engagement. Tang shares insights on balancing technological innovation with democratic values in the digital age.

How might Taiwan’s digital democracy approach transform governance in other countries? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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