本文探討科技威權主義及其限制，並以中國的「白紙革命」為例。在習近平主政下，中國將社會穩定視為國家安全議題，強化對社會的監控，也試圖強化對 輿論與民心的引導。科技的使用以及由此而來的「科技威權主義」，因此具有軟硬的兩面性。儘管如此，「白紙革命」在習近平甫連任第三任後爆發，顯示「科技威權主義」的內涵與實踐仍值得進一步檢視。 本文認為，中國在疫情期間採取以「健康碼」為主的科技治理形式，造成若干不便、權力的濫用，乃至不幸事件的發生。然而，柔性的措施僅頌揚中國的抗疫成效，無法或不能回應社會的不幸與不滿，以致失去引導輿論及民心的效果。「白紙革命」乃藉由一場發生於新疆的大火，引爆中國多地與諸多民眾的不滿。

 This paper seeks to explore technological authoritarianism and its limits, with the A4/ white paper revolution as a case study. Under Xi Jinping’s rule, China sees maintaining social stability as a matter of national security. It seeks strengthening its control over the society, while attempts to guide public opinion and earn the people’s heart. The use of technology and the ensuing “technological authoritarianism” therefore contain both hard and soft aspects. However, the fact that the A4 revolution emerged soon after Xi secured his third term indicates that the meaning and practice of “technological authoritarianism” need to be revisited. The paper maintains that during the COVID-19 pandemic, China’s technological governance took the “health code” as a main form of control, which over time resulted in inconveniences, abuse of power and tragedies. The soft aspect of China’s governance, however, focused only on praising the country’s achievements in fighting against the pandemic, and was not able or not willing to address social discontent, rendering the state no longer able to guide public opinion as well as channel the people’s affect. It was in this context that a fire in remote Xinjiang triggered widespread discontent, which resulted in the white paper revolution.