Civic tech’s role in safeguarding democracy in East Asia

Longer description:

Vakau and Chihhao present initial findings from a research project that interviewed members of civic tech communities in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, exploring their role in safeguarding democracy in these jurisdictions. 

With over a decade of history, all three communities play key roles in enhancing citizen participation, transparency, and government accountability. Consequently, they often find themselves on the frontlines of democracy defence and become targets of malicious actors when political power shifts or foreign influences attack.

Civic tech projects in South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan bolster democracy through citizen participation, transparency, and government accountability, but face challenges including legal charges, cyberattacks, and death threats. And above all, many need to be ever adaptable under anti-democratic governments.