The Ministry of Digital Affairs is to be launched on Aug. 27, with Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang (唐鳳) serving as its first minister, Executive Yuan spokesman Lo Ping-cheng (羅秉成) said yesterday.
The new ministry is to promote interdisciplinary cooperation in digital services, complete and apply the “Data for Social Good” system and facilitate technology and data democratization.
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University associate engineering professor Chiueh Her-ming (闕河鳴) and iPass Corp chairman Lee Huai-jen (李懷仁) are to serve as political deputy ministers.
Photo: Tsung Chang-chin, Taipei Times
Tang must relinquish her minister without portfolio duties before assuming the position, Lo said, adding that her successor would be announced later.
The new ministry is to consist of the Administration for Digital Industries; the Administration for Cyber Security; the National Institute of Cyber Security, which is to be established by the end of the year; and three foundations, including the Institute for Information Industry, the Telecom Technology Center and the Taiwan Network Information Center.
The ministry is to integrate the associated services of the National Communications Commission, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the National Development Council and the Cabinet’s Department of Cyber Security.
Academics hope that the new ministry would help government and business build an “information security moat” against cyberattacks as tensions across the Taiwan Strait rise.
Chiang Ya-chi (江雅綺), director of the Taiwan Law and Technology Association and an associate professor at National Taiwan Ocean University’s College of Ocean Law and Policy, said that digital industries are hopeful that Tang can develop thorough strategies to guide them through digital transitions.
Taiwan should have laws similar to the EU’s Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act, she said.
The government should set clear regulations on information security and personal information protection, as data economics is playing a greater role in business and trade, she said.
The ministry can help government agencies with digital transformation, and build a solid foundation for digital governance, Chiang said.
Such governance requires cooperation between various agencies, making communication between agencies a primary challenge for the new ministry, she added.
The Open Culture Foundation, the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, the Software Liberty Association Taiwan, the Coalition of Taiwan Civil Service Reform Drivers and Amnesty International Taiwan issued a statement last month calling on the new ministry to consider human rights while drafting its administrative plan.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS