Open Technology and Advocacy

Open source supports product development, industrial progress, internet freedom, and digital rights. When the production of code and technology is more diverse and less monopolized, more people can participate in building a digital society that is fair, free, and protective of users' rights. Open source should therefore be understood not only as access to source code, but also as a set of values for facing technological change.

Digital and internet applications have become part of daily life and government systems, expanding the possibility for individuals to participate in public decision-making. Open data is a cornerstone for that participation. Only by building accessible open data can society strengthen public participation, oversight, and government transparency. The purpose of open data should emphasize public well-being, not only economic value-added reuse.

Since 2016, OCF has actively promoted open government. We organized Taiwan civil society delegations to attend Open Government Partnership Global Summits and published Taiwan's first civil society Open Government Observation Report in 2017. After the Executive Yuan and Legislative Yuan adopted OGP principles for action plans in 2020, OCF participated in preparation, planning discussions, and public-sector, civic, and international training and forums.

In 2024, during the proposal phase for Taiwan's second Open Government National Action Plan, OCF connected its open source, open data, and open government advocacy work. The proposal focused on gaps in the government's open data system and on building better mechanisms for citizen participation in data and decision-making.