Ministry of Digital Affairs (Taiwan) explained

Agency Name:Ministry of Digital Affairs
Nativename A:數位發展部
Formed:27 August 2022
Headquarters:143 Yanping S. Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei
Minister1 Name:Huang Yen-nun
Minister1 Pfo:Minister
Deputyminister1 Name:Chiueh Herming, Lee Huai-jen (political), Yeh Ning (administrative)
Deputyminister1 Pfo:Deputy minister

The Ministry of Digital Affairs is a cabinet-level governmental body of Taiwan, in charge of all policy and regulation of information, telecommunications, communications, information security, and the internet in Taiwan.

Background

Following the passage of an amendment to the Organizational Act of the Executive Yuan in 2010, the number of agencies within the Executive Yuan was to be reduced from 37 to 29. This included the transfer of some duties from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the National Communications Commission to what would become the Ministry of Digital Affairs.[1] [2] The Ministry of Digital Affairs assumed oversight of select portfolios from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Executive Yuan's Department of Cyber Security as well.[3] These included government information security, digital services and data management, alongside the development of industries related to the digital economy.[4] The digital ministry's duties were to integrate and develop policy for telecommunication, information, cybersecurity, the Internet and communication industries. The agency was also responsible for maintenance and management of digital resources and infrastructure, and expected to foster a positive environment for the development of new technologies.[5]

The Executive Yuan declared the founding of a digital development ministry a legislative priority in February 2021.[6] By March, assorted amendments had been proposed for legislative review and minister without portfolio Kuo Yau-hwang was selected convenor of the digital ministry's preparatory office.[7] The Legislative Yuan approbated the establishment of the Ministry of Digital Affairs by passing an amendment to the National Communications Commission Organization Act and approving the Organization Act of the Ministry of Digital Affairs in December 2021.[8] [9] By March 2022, Kuo Yau-hwang had been replaced by Audrey Tang.[10] She was heavily involved in setting up the Ministry of Digital Affairs,[11] and was duly appointed the agency's founding minister.[12] The Ministry of Digital Affairs was inaugurated on 27 August 2022.[13] [14] The Organization Act for the Ministry of Digital Affairs limits the ministry to 598 employees.[14]

Organisation

The ministry is headed by a minister, two political deputy ministers, one administrative deputy minister, and one chief secretary.

Implementation units

Subordinate agencies and non-departmental public bodies

List of ministers

Political Party:

No.NamePortraitTerm of officeDaysPartyCabinet
1Audrey Tang (唐鳳) 27 August 2022 20 May 2024 Independent Su Tseng-chang II
Chen Chien-jen
2Huang Yen-nun (黃彥男) 20 May 2024 Incumbent Independent Cho Jung-tai

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Chung . Jake . NCC passes act for 5G network investments . 8 August 2022 . Taipei Times . 14 July 2022.
  2. News: Shan . Shelley . NCC outlines digital act progress . 8 August 2022 . Taipei Times . 7 May 2021.
  3. News: Chen . Yu-fu . Hetherington . William . LY committee freezes NT$400m of budget on eIDs . 8 August 2022 . Taipei Times . 17 November 2020.
  4. News: Lee . Hsin-fan . New ministry nearing approval . 8 August 2022 . Taipei Times . 19 October 2020.
  5. News: Lee . Hsin-fang . Liu . Tzu-hsuan . Tang preparing for digital ministry launch next month . 8 August 2022 . Taipei Times . 4 June 2022.
  6. News: Lee . Hsin-fang . Chung . Jake . Cabinet details priority bills for legislative term . 8 August 2022 . Taipei Times . 26 February 2021.
  7. News: Taiwan aiming to set up ministry of digital development next year . 8 August 2022 . Central News Agency . 25 March 2021. Republished as: News: Lee . Hsin-fang . Chin . Jonathan . Cabinet approves draft amendments to set up ministry of digital development . 8 August 2022 . Taipei Times . 26 March 2021.
  8. News: Legislature approves plan to establish digital development ministry . 8 August 2022 . Central News Agency . 28 December 2021. Republished as: News: CYBERSTRATEGY: Legislature approves plan to launch digital ministry . 8 August 2022 . Taipei Times . 30 December 2021.
  9. News: Lee . Hsin-fan . KMT filing to delay full operations of new digital ministry . 8 August 2022 . Taipei Times . 3 January 2022.
  10. News: Strong . Matthew . Taiwan puts Audrey Tang in charge of digital affairs ministry project . 8 August 2022 . Taiwan News . 5 March 2022.
  11. News: Strong . Matthew . Taiwan to launch Ministry of Digital Affairs in August . 8 August 2022 . Taiwan News . 18 June 2022.
  12. News: Huang . Tzu-ti . Audrey Tang tapped as head of Taiwan's new digital ministry . 8 August 2022 . Taiwan News . 5 August 2022.
  13. News: Lai . Yu-chen . Shih . Hsiu-chuan . Minister Without Portfolio Audrey Tang to head new digital ministry . 8 August 2022 . Central News Agency . 5 August 2022. Republished as: News: Digital affairs ministry to be launched on Aug. 27 . 8 August 2022 . Taipei Times . 6 August 2022.
  14. News: Su . Ssi-yun . Lai . Yu-chen . Shih . Hsiu-chuan . President Tsai inaugurates new Ministry of Digital Affairs . 27 August 2022 . Central News Agency . 27 August 2022 . While it is still unclear what specific projects will be overseen by the new ministry, Tsai named data integration, telecommunication, digital technology, cyber security, internet development, talent cultivation, and innovation as some of the policy areas the ministry would be responsible for. The ministry is expected to provide digital solutions to support small and medium-sized enterprises -- which make up 90 percent of Taiwan's businesses -- and improve cyber security capacity in response to "omnipresent threats" in the rapidly evolving digital world, according to Tsai. ... In accordance with the Organization Act for the Ministry of Digital Affairs, which was enacted by the Legislature in December last year, the ministry's personnel size is capped at 598, including 300 positions for those from outside the civil service..
  15. Web site: Strong . Matthew . Taiwan National Institute of Cyber Security appoints president . taiwannews.com.tw . Taiwan News . 5 January 2023.