by Fang-Hua Chang
Taiwan’s democratization process is nothing short of remarkable. Yet, despite its success, young people still feel sidelined by traditional political structures. The Sunflower Movement in 2013-2014 was a wake-up call, and led to new initiatives for digital democracy: platforms like g0v’s Cofacts and vTaiwan are giving young people the tools to reshape politics, fight misinformation, and demand more transparency. These innovative movements are proving that the future of democracy doesn’t just belong to politicians—it belongs to the people, especially the youth. Taiwan’s story is a roadmap for a new democracy, and the world is watching.
Democracy in Taiwan: Evolution and Youth Participation
Taiwan’s democratic journey is an extraordinary one, especially after the lifting of martial law in 1987 (Chen, 1998). This transformation from a tightly controlled authoritarian regime to a vibrant democracy reached a milestone with Taiwan’s first direct presidential election in 1996. Its political environment nowadays reflects the aspirations of its people, in sharp contrast to its earlier, more authoritarian regime. Today, Taiwan is widely recognised for its rule of law, robust electoral system, and commitment to democratic values among its citizens.
Despite these achievements, challenges remain, particularly regarding civil liberties and the growing involvement of the younger generation in politics (Templeman, 2022, p.26). Traditional political structures still tend to marginalise younger or disadvantaged voices, deeming them as inexperienced or too disconnected from the “real-world” needs of governance. This has left many young people disillusioned, feeling that the political process no longer addresses their democratic aspirations or concerns.
This frustration was particularly evident during Taiwan’s Sunflower Movement in 2013-2014, when students and young activists protested against the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party over an opaque trade agreement with China. Many felt that the agreement undermined Taiwan’s sovereignty and democratic accountability. In their call for greater transparency and participation, the movement brought to light the growing dissatisfaction among young people with traditional governance. What followed was the emergence of new ways for youth to engage—particularly through digital platforms that allowed them to voice their opinions and influence decisions in ways that were previously not possible.
Digital Democracy: Youth-Driven Initiatives in Taiwan
In response to the growing dissatisfaction about traditional political structures, Taiwanese youth have begun to reshape the landscape of political engagement. Among the most significant is the g0v movement, an open-source community that was established in 2012. This platform aims to bridge the gap between the government and the public that promotes transparency and civic engagement. One standout project from g0v is Cofacts, a collaborative fact-checking chatbot that fights back against disinformation. What makes Cofacts so special is that it’s not just a tool for fact-checking—it’s an entire community effort. Cofacts operates on an open-source model, allowing users to flag suspicious information, contribute to the fact-checking process, and provide feedback on verified content. Regular people can get involved by flagging fake news, verifying facts, and offering real-time corrections to misinformation as it spreads. It’s a way to put the power back in the hands of the people. This decentralised approach shifts the power who are able to gatekeeper information (traditional authority figures) to everyday citizens equipped with digital tools and knowledge. With Cofacts, young Taiwanese are not just passive consumers of information—they are active participants in shaping the political conversation. It’s like a digital democracy in action, where everyone has the tools to stand up for the truth.
That’s where Cofacts offers a valuable lesson for the world. In Taiwan, the fact-checking process is a shared responsibility that isn’t just in the hands of politicians or media tycoons. Instead, it’s in the hands of everyday citizens. By building a decentralised, open-source tool that allows anyone to participate, Cofacts empowers individuals to fight back against the tide of fake news. Cofacts also offers an alternative to the “top-down” approach to information that many European countries rely on. In many places, the traditional media or government-led fact-checking institutions control what’s considered “true” or “false.” But as we know, this doesn’t always build trust. The power of Cofacts lies in its ability to engage communities in real time, allowing regular citizens to actively verify information and share their findings with others.
Digital democracy: Give Voice back to the People
Another transformative platform is vTaiwan, an initiative that stemmed from the Sunflower Movement. When Taiwan’s youth took to the streets during the Sunflower Movement, demanding greater transparency and participation in government decisions, they weren’t just asking for change—they were calling for a new way of doing politics. And from this demand for more inclusive governance, an innovative platform was born: Taiwan.
vTaiwan facilitates open and inclusive public deliberation on policy issues. At the heart of vTaiwan is a belief that democracy isn’t just about voting once every few years—it’s about being able to participate in ongoing political conversations or even policy making decisions. The platform uses a tool called Pol.is, which gathers opinions from a broad range of people, analyzes them, and builds consensus. From ride-sharing regulations to online alcohol sales, you name it. The vTaiwan process is built on a four-stage framework—Proposal, Opinion, Reflection, and Legislation—ensuring that public input is systematically incorporated into policy discussions. Weekly hackathons and public consultations further enrich this process, fostering collaboration between citizens, government officials, and experts.
The impact of vTaiwan is undeniable. With over 80% of its proposals implemented into policy, it has proven that digital democracy can be more than just a pipe dream. It’s about making governance more inclusive, more transparent, and more collaborative. Instead of waiting for politicians to make all the decisions behind closed doors, vTaiwan opens up the process to everyone. The platform doesn’t just collect opinions—it actively ensures that those opinions are heard and acted upon. It makes the policymaking process public and accessible, showing that decisions are based on real input from the people. With growing concerns about the influence of lobbyists, political elites, and corporate interests in the European Union, a platform like vTaiwan could help rebuild trust in the political system. It could create a space where people feel like their concerns and ideas are genuinely taken into account, not just ignored or sidelined. In fact, studies have proved that this open form of online discussion “does not differ from face-to-face discussions in its participatory influence and effectiveness (Gil de Zúñiga et al, 2010, p.37).” It also fosters greater participation in different societal settings (Gil de Zúñiga et al, 2010, p.46). vTaiwan proves that digital democracy isn’t just a futuristic ideal—it’s already happening. And the lessons learned from Taiwan’s experience could help the EU reshape its democratic systems to better reflect the needs and voices of its citizens.
Imagining the Future of Digital Democracy
As we look toward the future, one thing is clear: digital democracy is not just a passing trend; it’s the evolution of how we engage with governance. Taiwan has already begun to demonstrate how youth with digital tools can reshape traditional political structures. Whether it’s Cofacts fighting misinformation or Taiwan turning policy-making into a collaborative process, Taiwan’s innovations hold important lessons for the world.
But what does the future of digital democracy actually look like? One of the most exciting possibilities lies in transnational collaboration. Imagine a world where decisions about the environment are not made by a few elite leaders behind closed doors but are shaped by the contributions of people from all walks of life, all over the globe. Just as vTaiwan brought together people from diverse backgrounds to discuss local policy issues —whether it’s climate change, data privacy, or global health issues.
Another key aspect lies in the trust issue. Right now, many citizens feel disconnected from political processes, either because they don’t feel their voices are heard or because they don’t trust their leaders. Digital platforms can help bridge that gap. But for this to happen, we must work to build trust in the digital democracy itself. This requires transparency—not just in the policymaking process, but in how digital platforms collect and use data. When citizens understand how their voices are being heard and how their data is being handled, they’re more likely to engage in the process.
Looking ahead, digital democracy holds incredible potential to transform the way we experience governance. Just as Taiwan’s youth have stepped up to lead their own way, all youngsters have the potential to take part in reshaping new democracies. From fighting disinformation to creating more participatory spaces for policy-making, the future is one where people—not just politicians or corporations—have the power to shape their communities and their countries. But to make that future a reality, we must be mindful of the challenges ahead. How do we ensure that these platforms remain truly democratic, serving the people rather than exploiting them? How do we protect against manipulation, surveillance, and abuse of power? These are questions we’ll need to answer as we continue to build the future of digital democracy.
One thing is for sure – The future of democracy is digital in the hands of young people, and the opportunities are limitless.
Fang-Hua Chang is a researcher and communication specialist from Taiwan, with a Master’s in Multilingual Communication from KU Leuven. Her thesis dissected how local and international media frames Taiwanese elections, sparking her passion for political communication and youth engagement. With experience in Communication strategy, she hopes to turn dense policies into content that doesn’t make people fall asleep. Passionate about social justice, sustainability, and making activism more fun, Fang-Hua is on a mission to turn ‘boring’ into ‘inspiring’ and break down communication barriers.