On July 15, DSET Non-Resident Fellow You-Hao Lai was invited to speak at the 2025 Human Rights in Asia Forum, co-hosted by the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation and Taiwan’s National Human Rights Commission. The forum gathered over 100 guests, including experts from domestic and international think tanks, civil society leaders, media representatives, and 45 youth leaders from 16 countries participating in this year’s Southeast Asia–South Asia–Taiwan Youth Camp, to explore the practices and challenges of human rights in the face of global technological and political developments.
The forum was moderated by Deputy Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Yoling Wang, and featured a keynote speech by Marcin Jerzewski, Director of the European Values Center for Security Policy, who analyzed the global backsliding of democracy and the growing constraints on civil society. Panelists included You-Hao Lai from DSET, Yeh-Chung Lu, Deputy Director of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Eeling Chiu, Secretary-General of Amnesty International Taiwan, and two youth representatives, who together examined human rights challenges and response strategies from the perspectives of international politics, technological change, and civil society, and discussed the role of youth in driving progress.
Lai pointed out that Taiwan’s human rights protections are facing dual pressures: internal issues and shifting regional geopolitics. As China escalates its military and security threats, democratic societies like Taiwan face a pressing challenge—how to safeguard national security while also protecting civil liberties and rights. He also discussed how emerging technologies and the authoritarian application of tech are impacting human rights, calling for a rethinking of privacy protection frameworks in the age of AI, where large-scale data collection and analysis have become routine.
Lai further analyzed the global expansion of China’s model of digital authoritarianism. He noted that Chinese digital products and services—from infrastructure and social media platforms to AI models and applications—not only comply with Chinese law but also enable authoritarian regimes to extend control over information environments. This poses growing threats to freedom of expression, access to information, and privacy in democratic countries. In response to audience questions, he shared insights on balancing national security and freedom of speech, and offered suggestions on how young people can bridge generational divides and deepen their involvement in human rights advocacy.
This forum served as the flagship event of the 2025 Asia Youth Leadership Camp, with opening remarks by TAEF Chairman Hsiao Hsin-Huang and Deputy Chair Yoling Wang, and attended by National Human Rights Commissioners Jung-Chang Wang, Chiu-Chin Tien, and Ta-Hua Yeh, as well as Chia-Wen Yao, Senior Advisor to the President. The event concluded with closing remarks by TAEF Executive Director Hao-Chih Yang.
As democracy faces growing global challenges and authoritarianism expands, DSET remains committed to deepening international exchanges with like-minded partners and helping position Taiwan as a hub for dialogue on human rights and democratic governance in the Asia-Pacific—and beyond.
