Interview on Digital G0vernance

Hello all,
As a French student in a double master on Political and Digital sciences, I have been fascinated for several years by Taiwanese democracy, and in particular by its (innovative) digital tools.
I am currently writing a memoire note to better understand how digital technology contributes to the improvement of Taiwanese democracy, taking the example of the management of the Covid-19 pandemic.
To do this, I would like to conduct an interview with Hacktivists like you, involved in collaborative platforms, to ask you some questions.
Thanks for your help,
Best,
Nicolas

# Taiwanese Democracy

- What do you think of Taiwanese democracy ? Would you consider it as participative ?
[name=Phil]
I think it is young but vigorous, since many youngsters participate in social issues as political workers. For participative part, I think Taiwan has many tunnels for citizens to express their opinion, like public hearing, however, the transparency and open-source ways still get plenty of things to improve.

- Why are you so much involved in the development of Taiwan’s democracy ? Do you consider yourself as a politically active citizen ?
[name=Phil]
I think because many participants was innovated and motivated by some huge and sucessful social movements, like Sunflower Movement or Gay Pride which is held every year. This makes us believe that we can be the power of change instead of passively looking at politicians.

# Covid response :
- How do you evaluate the government's management of Covid (speed, efficiency...) ?
[name=Phil]
It is a big question because the pandemic has different stages and people hold different views based on their living background, career and personal experience. For me, I hold a positive view on how the CDC used border control to minimise the negative effect in the beginning, and the high alert also keep the economy prosperous. But I am also concerned about the abuse of information collected, the limitation of personal freedom, and if the border control still worth when it comes to the latest, weaker Omicron variant.

- How do you evaluate the civil society’s management of Covid (speed, efficiency...) ?
[name=Phil]
I am highly appreciated that many contributors helped contributing themselves on some useful and helpful project, including translation of important information to migrant workers, mask map, or social distance app and contact-tracing service. I think it is more agile and flexible than the government officials.
- How civil society and government interacted to bring the fastest and most efficient response ?
[name=Phil]
Civil tech society actually becomes the bridge for the officials to communicate with people with different background and skills more directly. This increase the transparency and make the government can optimise the leverage power of the civil society to quickly develop and renew the policy, measures, and service.

# Covid digital governance :
- Do you think that the digital tools implemented during the pandemic helped contain the Covid-19 ?
[name=Phil]
Definitely, but the moral issue about privacy also worth discussing.
[name=sam]
Yes, but I think it's easy to over-focus on "digital" tools. Many tools/systems helped, like village cheifs and paper bulletein boards, too.

- In what type of activity were you active ? What initiatives have you launched ?
[name=Phil]
Three types, information recording, technological service and information circulation. Some initiatives include contact-tracing app and service, vaccine and mask map, and information collection of economic relief policy.

# Digital governance :

- Is nowadays the digital field vital for a democracy ? What does digital bring to Taiwan’s democracy ?
-[name=Phil]
the answer is positive, since technology have and will become popular in our world. When everything is innovated by technology, like fintech, legal-tech , reg-tech, the governance and democracy should and must take the leverage power of democracy to fulfill the need from the citizens.

Digital innovation on governance makes the governemnt become more efficient, flexible and agile to deal with the challenges, it also increase the transparency of government service and related data.
- [name=sam]
https://international.thenewslens.com/article/166440

- Do you believe that the core values of the digital world (transparency, openness, ethics) is essential in politics ?
Yes.

- [name=sam]
who says these are the core values of the digital world? Where do these values come from? Much of the digital world is very untransparent

- Is this political model an ideal for a developer ?
Not sure about this question, please give up more detailed information