Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s cyber ambassador: Bringing digital diplomacy to the world

Audrey Tang speaks to BBC Technology editor, Zoe Kleinman about technology, democracy and community.

Named one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People in AI”, Audrey Tang was instrumental in shaping Taiwan’s acclaimed COVID-19 response and in safeguarding the 2024 elections from foreign cyber interference.

A child prodigy, born with a life threatening heart condition, reading, philosophy and the internet were part of her world from an early age. She became involved in Taiwan’s sunflower student movement in 2014, laying internet cables so that those occupying government buildings could get their messages out to the people. The exercise was so successful that she was asked to join the government leveraging technology to improve governmental transparency and citizen engagement.

Audrey Tang Taiwan’s first digital minister and is the world’s first openly non-binary cabinet minister. She’s on a mission to spread digital diplomacy globally, and in turn protect democracy in her own country of Taiwan. A leading thinker on AI she advises governments and tech companies around the world and is the author of four books.

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Presenter: Zoe Kleinman Producers: Farhana Haider & Clare Williamson Editor: Justine Lang & Nick Holland

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(Image: Audrey Tang. Credit: Sean Marc Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)