Taiwan’s model for digital democracy goes global

Jun 28, 2025Shinzo Abe Initiative for Peace and Security, News

As the US and others struggle to confront AI-driven disinformation, Taiwan’s resilience has become its latest key export

Taiwan, widely considered one of the world’s most targeted democracies for foreign disinformation, made headlines last week as it was tapped to lead a new coalition formed by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). Convening policymakers and industry experts, the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Group on Elections (AI AGE) will build bridges between democratic governance and AI expertise to address the challenges and opportunities that AI presents in the conduct of free and fair elections.

Taiwan’s invitation was no courtesy. On the contrary, it has become a laboratory for democratic resilience in the AI age. At a time when those in the pay of authoritarian regimes look to undermine our elections through increasingly sophisticated disinformation campaigns, Taiwan’s playbook is seen as not just effective, but essential.

THE WORLD IS TAKING NOTE

As its peers scramble to address the risks posed by AI, Taiwan has become a sought-after voice in global AI governance. In effect, it has already lived the future others fear, emerging stronger on the other side of AI-fueled disinformation by harnessing the technology’s potential.

Leading the charge is Taiwan’s Cyber Ambassador Audrey Tang (唐鳳), who served as Taiwan’s first digital affairs minister, 2025 World Leader in AIWS Award recipient. A headliner at Munich’s Cyber Security Conference and last month’s AI Expo for National Competitiveness in Washington, Tang’s calendar is but one indicator of the importance of Taiwan’s latest key export: its model for digital democracy.

Its invitation to AI AGE offers Taiwan a chance to impart its hard-won lessons, presenting more than 145 countries advised by IFES (including the US) with opportunities to adopt its best practices. The group’s only member from East Asia, Tang’s remarks at its unveiling emphasized that Taiwan’s inclusion was a reflection of the world’s growing appreciation for its government’s approach to AI. It is “crucial that AI is trained to serve the greater good, while unlocking our collective wisdom and building a more accountable and participatory digital society,” Tang said.

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