Taiwan’s representative Audrey Tang has received the Right Livelihood Award in Stockholm on 2 December 2025. Tang is the first Taiwanese laureate in the prize’s history. Staff from the Taipei Mission in Sweden attended the ceremony.
The award jury honoured Tang for advancing the social use of digital technology to empower citizens and renew democracy. It highlighted her work as Taiwan’s cyber ambassador and first digital minister. According to the foundation, Tang has shown how technology can deepen trust and give millions a direct role in policy.
In her speech, Tang stressed that freedom and democracy are built through “blood, sweat and tears,” not given from above. She said today’s challenge is to channel conflict rather than silence it. AI, she added, must connect people instead of dividing them through outrage.
Founded in 1980 by Swedish philanthropist and former MEP Jakob von Uexkull, the Right Livelihood Award is often called an “alternative Nobel.” It honours individuals and organisations that offer practical solutions to global challenges, including human rights, environmental protection, sustainable development, peace and social justice.
