IGF 2019 OF #25
Technological Innovation and Challenges to Data Governance

Subtheme
Description

As the new round of global technological revolution and industrial transformation unfolds, modern information technologies represented by Artificial Intelligence, 5G and Big Data have made continuous breakthroughs, injecting new impetus into global economic development. At the same time, with the accelerated popularization and application of data-driven new technologies, regulatory, legal and ethical issues ensue and cross border, profoundly impacting global data governance, cyber security and sustainable development, and dealing fresh demands and challenges to global Internet governance system and rules. Against the back drop of mounting factors and uncertainties in cyberspace as well as the data governance model to be improved, countries across the world should enhance exchanges and cooperation, through open, interactive and diversified international dialogues to explore data governance mechanism and trustworthy use of new technologies, with a view to promoting global digital development and the building of a more fair and reasonable global Internet governance system. The proposed Open Forum seeks to engage high-level delegates and distinguished experts from governments, international organizations, enterprises, technical communities and think tanks in the global Internet sector. Through in-depth discussion centering on development opportunities and challenges to global social and economic progress brought about by AI, 5G and other Internet technological innovations, this Forum will examine and share ideas on issues such as the impact of data governance policies and trends on the development of new technologies across the globe, international rules making on data governance and new technologies as well as the relationship, role and position of the public and private sector in data governance mechanism. It also encourages best practice sharing on data governance and personal information protection for all parties and exploration on a collaborative data governance model with multi-party participation, in a bid to promote a data governance mechanism at the global level that contributes to a peaceful, secure, open, cooperative and orderly cyberspace and a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

Organizers

Cyberspace Administration of China
Cyberspace Administration of China
Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies

Speakers

Madam Qi Xiaoxia, general director of Bureau of International Cooperation, Cyberspace Administration of China. Prof. Louis Pouzin, father of France Internet. President of OPEN-ROOT. Dr. Demi Getschko, CEO of the Brazilian Network Information Center, Member of the Internet Hall of Fame. Ms Zhang Xiao, Standing vice secretariat general of the world internet conference, deputy director of the CNNIC. Prof. Luca Bell, Fond of Getulio Varga, Brazil. Prof. Henry Gao, Associate Professor of Law, Singapore Management University. Mr. Hong Yanqing, Senior Researcher at Law and Development Academy at Peking University

Online Moderator

Delegate from Cyberspace Administration of China

SDGs

GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequalities
GOAL 12: Responsible Production and Consumption
GOAL 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
GOAL 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Key Policy Questions and Expectations

1.Examine and share ideas on the impact of data governance policies and trends on the development of new technologies in the World. Countries across the world should enhance exchanges and cooperation, strengthen  open, interactive and diversified  international dialogues. With a view to promoting global digital development and the building of a more fair and reasonable global Internet governance system.

2.Discuss data governance and the new technology of international rulemaking, data governance mechanism in the relationship between the government and enterprises, role and positioning issues.

3.Share practical experience in data governance and personal information protection, explore a model of collaborative data governance involving multiple parties. Promote the establishment of a data governance mechanism at the global level that promotes peace, security, openness, cooperation and order in cyberspace, so as to make the community of Shared future in cyberspace more dynamic.

2. Summary of Issues Discussed

The forum carried out in-depth discussions on the impact of data governance policies and trends in countries around the world on the development of new technologies, the formulation of international rules on data governance and new technologies, and the relationship, role and positioning of governments and enterprises in the mechanism of data governance. The first view is that the government can strengthen Internet governance in combination with the multi-stakeholder Internet governance model. Some introduced the model of Internet governance in Brazil, that is, the governance model of multi-stakeholders, and expressed the hope that the platform IGF could play a more advantageous role of multi-stakeholders, but he also showed that the root of the Internet governance model lies in control. The second view is that the different data governance policies in different countries have their deep social roots. Some compared data governance policies in the United States, Europe and China, which represent the demands of governments, capital and individuals respectively. The United States focuses on the free cross-border flow of information, the European Union focuses more on human rights, and China focuses on the cyber sovereignty or cyber security. Some compared the Cyber security law in China and GDPR data governance principles, think that both are in order to protect the personal information for the purpose, to individuals, data, storage limits and similar law and transparency, and in the relevant provisions of the personal information protection, etc. The third view is that the BRICS should strengthen their consensus on data protection norms and hope to further consolidate the achievements of the BRICS summit in 2017, and form a Internet data protection to the BRICS specification.

3. Policy Recommendations or Suggestions for the Way Forward

With the advent of new technologies and applications that keep engendering new demands and challenges, it’s increasingly clear that the international cyberspace governance is not merely a technical issue but a holistic one. All parties, including governments, international organizations, Internet companies, technology communities, non-governmental institutions and individual citizens should all play their role through effective and constructive cooperation to build a  safer and healthier cyberspace. During such collaborative process, we must keep in mind that countries under various development stages have their respective challenges both domestically and externally. Each and every country has the right to choose its way of development in cyberspace. Policymakers are not seeking an identical way forward but the mutual trust on which the global rules and norms for cyberspace could be built.

The international community should work far more closely to deepen strategic mutual trust, improve the governance mechanisms and promote the implementation of rules in order to improve the global Internet governance process to reach a new stage.

4. Other Initiatives Addressing the Session Issues

This forum shows that cyberspace is becoming a vast jungle for various forces and interests of human society, an arena for the game of great powers and a new stage for the competition of national interests. China-US relations are an important variable affecting the international order in cyberspace. During the forum, although there is no special forum on China-US relations; But inside and outside the conference hall, delegates from various countries could be heard discussing china-us relations. As the United States to abandon the original leading responsibility in international governance system in cyberspace, a global Internet governance system change into the key period, accelerate the establishment perfect rules of cyberspace system become the common pursuit of the international community, governments and all kinds of main body in succession to occupy a place in this process, in order to win the future development of the initiative. 

5. Making Progress for Tackled Issues

IGf serves as a way to make people understand what are the opportunities and challenges brought by ICTs to countries under their variant development stages, so as to understand their mentality and practices in the Internet governance measures. Based on such understanding, our respective roles are clear as much as the resources we need. All these shall serve as a catalyst for further dialogue, negotiation, and cooperation featuring openness, transparency and efficiency, which in turn can help us to define what a smart political resolution should be.

It is recommended to summarize and publish the consensus and divergence that existed at IGF. In this way, the IGF will substantially expand the consensus on Internet-related issues.We should make the IGF more planable. 

6. Estimated Participation

About 200 onsite and online participants.About 100 women present onsite and online.

7. Reflection to Gender Issues

Genderissues were not discussed at the forum.