Event recap
On 10 June 2026, the FAU Center for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU CHREN) welcomed Dr Jan Švec, Researcher at the Institute of International Relations Prague, as part of its Human Rights Colloquium series. The event explored how Chinese social media platforms influence public perceptions of human rights issues in China and examined their implications for democratic resilience in Taiwan.
Drawing on original research combining an online survey of 1,200 respondents in Taiwan conducted in 2025 with expert interviews, Dr Švec challenged common assumptions about Taiwanese public opinion on China’s human rights record. While Taiwan is often portrayed as a strong advocate for democratic values and human rights, his findings suggest that public support for exerting pressure on China over human rights abuses is more limited than might be expected.
A central focus of the presentation was the role of Chinese social media platforms—including TikTok, Douyin, and Xiaohongshu—in shaping political attitudes. Dr Švec demonstrated that regular users of these platforms tend to hold more favourable views of the Chinese government, are less likely to agree that political repression is taking place in China, and are less supportive of international efforts to pressure Beijing over human rights violations. Users were also more likely to support Taiwan adopting a neutral position on politically sensitive issues concerning China. Overall, Dr Švec’s research suggested that long-term exposure to personalised digital environments might shape public opinion more effectively than overt state propaganda.
Speaker bio
Dr Jan Švec is a Researcher at the Institute of International Relations Prague, where his work focuses on authoritarianism, Chinese politics, the impact of modern technologies on governance, and human rights.
He received his PhD from the Prague University of Economics and Business, where his dissertation examined the impact of information and communication technologies on authoritarianism. He also holds a master’s degree in Political Science and Chinese Studies. Dr Švec has been a visiting researcher at Stockholm University and has undertaken research stays at Beijing Language and Culture University, Zhejiang University, and Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok.
About the FAU CHREN Human Rights Colloquium
Organized by the FAU Research Center for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU CHREN), our inter- and transdisciplinary brings together scholars and practitioners to discuss current issues in human rights research and practice.
Colloquia are organised on a rolling basis and are co-convened by Dr. Janina Heaphy and Prof. Dr. Eva Pils. Events are invitation-only. Enquiries should be directed to the co-conveners and/or to humanrights@fau.de.
