Digital Democracy 2030 Visits DSET, Focuses on Taiwan’s Experience in Countering Information Manipulation

DSET on Jan. 15, 2026 received a delegation from Japanese non-profit organization Digital Democracy 2030 (DD2030). DSET was represented by Democratic Governance Research Team Director Kai-Shen Huang and Deputy Director You-Hao Lai. Both sides exchanged views on Taiwan’s experience in combating information manipulation.

DD2030 was founded in January 2025 by Ken Suzuki, Chairman of SmartNews, Inc. It is a non-profit, politically neutral open-source development community that leverages AI and digital technology to advance participatory democracy.

During the meeting, DD2030 Founder Ken Suzuki and Chief of Staff Naofumi Nishida raised questions regarding the respective roles and modes of cooperation among the Taiwanese government, civil society organizations, and digital platforms in countering information manipulation. They also expressed strong interest in how Japan could learn from Taiwan’s experience and develop its own mechanisms to address information manipulation.

Director Kai-Shen Huang emphasized that the government plays a critical role in supporting non-governmental organizations in the fight against information manipulation, and that stronger governmental support for relevant civil society groups is essential. Deputy Director You-Hao Lai added that platform governance and regulatory frameworks must evolve in step with emerging challenges to effectively respond to new forms of information manipulation. Both agreed that enhancing the transparency of media platforms, as well as strengthening regulatory oversight, are among the most important policy priorities.

Deputy Director Lai further stressed that countering information manipulation requires participation from the entire society, with the core objective being the establishment of a “whole-of-society defense” strategy. He noted that only through cross-sector and cross-disciplinary collaboration among civil society, the private sector, and government—and by advancing institutional frameworks, education, and technological solutions in parallel—can Taiwan’s resilience be strengthened.