The war is no longer just a military confrontation. It is also massive disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing a society and increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. To defend against the cognitive war waged by China, Taiwan relies not only on its government but also on its civic hackers.
Josh does it to “make an impact.” Chewei is motivated by hackathons, programming marathons where technological solutions are found for social problems. And Peter aims to reveal the benefits of digital democracy to as many Taiwanese people as possible.
Although it is difficult to assess their number, Taiwan’s civic hackers are undeniably active and motivated. For about fifteen years, they have been deeply rooted in the country’s politics, pushing for a shift towards a more digital democracy.
Audrey Tang, one of Taiwan’s most prominent civic hackers, was appointed by Taipei in 2022 to lead the new Ministry of Digital Affairs. By bringing transparency and openness to the government, she also became the first transgender minister in Asia.
“They have become famous worldwide,” recalls Rosalind Liu, who participated in the mobilization without any formal IT training. She explains that many realized at that moment that even without being engineers, they could contribute to the movement.
The g0v community, behind many initiatives, gained credibility and political elite recognition after the successful move in 2014. This community has continued to influence Taiwan’s democratic life, inspiring the government during times of crisis.
Despite being seen as a laboratory for digital democracy, Taiwan’s government does not always listen to these modern consultations. Tools like vTaiwan, which promote consensus building on public policies through digital means, have faced limitations.
Over the years, many ideas from Taiwan’s civic hackers have advanced in the country’s democracy. While challenges of sustainability persist within the community, initiatives like Project Sc001 aim to promote civic engagement and digital skills among Taiwanese students.
The threat from China remains, urging continued defense of Taiwanese democracy beyond elected officials. That sentiment was echoed by a new participant at a g0v gathering, highlighting the ongoing importance of safeguarding Taiwan’s democracy.
