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Audrey Tang
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Biography Highlights
- Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s 1st Digital Minister (2016-2024), is celebrated for her pioneering efforts in digital democracy. Named one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People in AI” in 2023, Tang was instrumental in shaping Taiwan’s internationally acclaimed COVID-19 response and in safeguarding the 2024 presidential and legislative elections from foreign cyber interference. Tang is now focused on broadening her vision of Plurality — technology for collaborative diversity — to inspire global audiences.
Biography
About Audrey Tang
As the first nonbinary cabinet member globally, Tang identifies as “post-gender” and is comfortable with any pronouns. She is a respected community leader and a founding contributor to g0v, an initiative promoting transparency by making information about Taiwan’s economy, history, politics, and culture accessible.
Tang has been key in developing participation platforms such as Join.gov.tw, leading to practical improvements like enhanced access to tax software and revised cancer treatment regulations. A “conservative anarchist,” Tang is dedicated to boosting digital competence and safeguarding information integrity online through collective intelligence.
A child prodigy, Tang excelled in advanced mathematics by age six and computer programming by age eight. By 19, she had held significant positions in software companies and worked as an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley. Growing up in a large, pro-democracy family, Tang embraced pluralism and the internet’s potential to connect people based on shared interests rather than geography, fueling her drive for global impact.
In Taiwan, Tang’s generation has always intertwined politics with the internet, striving for a more transparent and inclusive society. Despite Taiwan’s martial law history, Tang and her fellow civic technologists have achieved internationally acclaimed progress toward greater governmental transparency.
During the 2014 Sunflower Movement, Tang played a crucial role in livestreaming protests against a trade agreement with Beijing, facilitating real-time communication that led to more peaceful negotiations and the movement’s success.
“Democracy can evolve.” Tang says. “We can create innovative policies by simply asking the people, ‘What should we do together?’”
There is also promising news behind Tang’s grand plan: more than half the world’s population – over 4 billion people – are holding elections in 2024. That’s over 70 countries.
Says Tang, “I want to be a good enough ancestor for future generations.”
Videos
Topics
Digital Democracy in the Age of AI
Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s pioneering Digital Minister, will take you on a journey through the transformative power of AI in enhancing democratic processes.
- The Evolution of Digital Democracy: How Taiwan has leveraged AI and digital platforms to increase transparency, citizen participation, and mutual trust.
- Safeguarding Elections: Strategies employed to protect the 2024 presidential and legislative elections from foreign cyber interference.
- Plurality: How technology can be harnessed to promote cooperative diversity and inclusive governance, with real-world examples that have led to significant policy changes and improved public services.
Join Tang to understand how AI can be a force for good in democracies worldwide and learn how these innovations can be applied in your own country.
The Power of Collective Intelligence
In this compelling presentation, Audrey Tang will delve into the importance of collective intelligence in today’s digital age. Key points include:
- Harnessing Public Input: How open source platforms can empower citizens to contribute democratically, in order to overcome polarization and manipulation.
- Transparency and Trust: The role of open data and transparent governance in building trust between the government and the public.
- Real-Time Collaboration: Lessons from the Sunflower Movement and how real-time digital communication can facilitate peaceful and productive political negotiations.
- Global Impact: Examples from Taiwan’s successful COVID-19 response and election safeguarding efforts that demonstrate the power of collective intelligence on a global scale.
Tang will illustrate how leveraging the wisdom of the crowd can lead to innovative solutions and a more resilient society.
Digital Resilience for All
Audrey Tang, a renowned digital pioneer, will share insights on building a resilient digital society. The talk will cover:
- Digital Competence: Strategies for safeguarding online information integrity and enhance resilience for all in today’s interconnected world.
- Technological Pluralism: How embracing diverse technological solutions can strengthen societal resilience.
- Inclusive Innovation: Tang’s approach to creating policies that are not only innovative but also inclusive and participatory, ensuring that all voices are heard.
Through real-world examples and forward-thinking strategies, Tang will inspire you to build a digital society that is both innovative and resilient, capable of facing the challenges of the future
Books
Plurality: The Future of Collaborative Technology and Democracy
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