RightsCon 2025 got underway Feb. 24 in Taipei City, bringing together academics, business leaders, policymakers, technology experts and human rights advocates from around the world to tackle pressing issues at the intersection of human rights and technology.
During her opening remarks, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said that while the internet and digital technologies promote progress and enhance transparency, they also pose problems such as algorithmic bias and privacy violations while widening the digital divide.
Taiwan is committed to forging an abuse-free digital environment that prioritizes protection of individual freedoms, she said, adding that the government looks forward to working with global partners to foster digital skills so everyone can benefit from technological advancements.
Echoing the vice president’s remarks, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun thanked the organizers for staging the event in Taiwan and offering the opportunity to share the Taiwan Model of digital governance.
The government is pleased to propose leveraging digital technologies to promote the well-being of both humans and the Earth as the 18th U.N. Sustainable Development Goal, she added.
Minister of Digital Affairs Huang Yen-nun said the summit marked a milestone in Taiwan’s digital diplomacy. At a time when authoritarian regimes are utilizing digital technologies to reinforce their control and surveillance, Taiwan is working to advance digital equality, build social trust and develop artificial intelligence and other key areas to ensure national security and strengthen freedom and democracy, he added.
Also speaking at the event, Access Now East Asia Senior Policy Analyst J.S. Vakau said the 13th edition of the summit involves more than 2,800 participants from 150 countries and 1,800 proposals from 125 countries. The impressive turnout demonstrates how digital technology continues to impact every aspect of the global community, he added.
It additionally underscores Taiwan’s inclusive, diverse, free and stable cyberspace, which not only offers protection for local internet users but also furthers the development of digital human rights and related initiatives, he said. (SFC-E)
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