Adriano Paroli, Co-Chair of the Italian Parliamentary Taiwan Friendship Association and Deputy Leader of the Forza Italia Senate Caucus, led a cross-party delegation of eight lawmakers to the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology (DSET) for discussions on Taiwan’s challenges in disinformation, Chinese interference, artificial intelligence (AI), and democratic governance. The delegation was accompanied by Marco Lombardi, Representative of the Italian Economic, Trade and Cultural Promotion Office in Taipei.
Chairman Paroli emphasized that as a member of the Western democratic community, he greatly values DSET’s work in monitoring democracy, human rights, press freedom, and freedom of expression. “The free world needs institutions that can conduct independent analysis and research—this is of critical importance,” he stated. He also underscored that the delegation’s composition, which included both ruling and opposition lawmakers, reflects Italy’s bipartisan commitment to strengthening ties with Taiwan.
Andrea Orsini, Vice-Chair of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Delegation, highlighted that democracy and human rights are key areas of concern for NATO. He noted that while Europe faces interference from Russia, the Indo-Pacific region’s primary challenge comes from China. Orsini expressed appreciation for DSET’s research, emphasizing its value and relevance for Italy and Europe alike.
During the dialogue, Italian lawmakers raised multiple questions, including whether Chinese disinformation campaigns against Taiwan are more severe than those in Western democracies, and whether such interference fluctuates over time. Senator Cinzia Pellegrino, a member of the Senate Committee on EU Policy, further inquired about the impact of AI on democracy and human rights. She noted that Europe is actively working to establish AI regulations and hoped to gain insights from Taiwan’s experience.
Billy Lin, Research Fellow with DSET’s Democratic Governance Team, explained that Taiwan faces a more acute disinformation challenge due to geographic and linguistic proximity to China. Beijing leverages local proxies and social media platforms such as TikTok and Facebook to amplify its influence, often releasing fear-driven narratives during military exercises to manipulate public sentiment. He further noted that China’s rapid AI development is shaped by authoritarian bias, posing potential risks to free societies.
On digital governance, DSET pointed out that Taiwan remains at an early stage. Past legislative attempts to regulate digital platforms encountered obstacles, and the draft “AI Basic Act” is still pending review in the Legislative Yuan. A comprehensive regulatory framework has yet to be established.
The Italian delegation also inquired about Taiwan’s efforts in cultivating AI and high-tech talent. DSET responded that while training top-tier talent requires years of investment, Taiwan benefits from close links between education and industry, as well as a highly dynamic youth community that serves as a key driver of innovation and technological resilience.
