China Internet Development Report 2022: Blue Book for World Internet Conference 9819951291, 9789819951291

Citation preview

Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies

China Internet Development Report 2022 Blue Book for World Internet Conference Translated by CCTB Translation Service

China Internet Development Report 2022

Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies

China Internet Development Report 2022 Blue Book for World Internet Conference

Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies Beijing, China

ISBN 978-981-99-5129-1 ISBN 978-981-99-5130-7 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5130-7 Jointly published with Publishing House of Electronics Industry The print edition is not for sale in China (Mainland). Customers from China (Mainland) please order the print book from: Publishing House of Electronics Industry. ISBN of the Co-Publisher’s edition: 978-7-121-44262-9 © Publishing House of Electronics Industry 2024 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publishers, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publishers nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publishers remain neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore

Preface

In 2022, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was successfully held. The year of 2022 sees an important moment as the CPC embarks on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects and marching towards the Second Centenary Goal. Under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially his important thought on Building China into a Cyber Power, a series of new progress and achievement have been made in cyberspace affairs. We compile China Internet Development Report 2022 (hereinafter referred to as “the Report”) to represent the achievements of Internet development in 2022, forecast the trends of Internet development, and provide as abundant materials and detailed data as possible. The Report embodies three characteristics as follows. (1) We always take General Secretary Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially his important thought on Building China into a Cyber Power, as theoretical basis and fundamental principle for the compilation of the Report. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has steered a steady course at the helm, guided the direction and made overall arrangement for the work of cyberspace affairs, and taken a holistic approach, perceived general trends, and proposed strategic plans, which scientifically leads China in the journey a cyber power. The Report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China clearly proposes to “build China in to a cyber power, digital China, and smart society”. The Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 includes a special section to make significant arrangement for “Accelerating the Digital Development and Building Digital China”. Relevant plans in the field of cyberspace affairs in the “14th Five-Year Plan” have been released, which deploy the Internet development in the new era. Guided by General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on Building China into a Cyber Power, we have deeply publicized and interpreted the theory in the exhibition of the achievements of China Internet development. (2) The Report focuses on the central work of learning, publicizing, and implementing the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and v

vi

Preface

showcases new achievements, practices, and new explorations of China Internet development in an all-round way. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly concludes that following the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, socialism with Chinese characteristics enters a new era. In the new era, cyberspace affairs in China face a new start. China firmly seizes the historical opportunity, vigorously strengthens the construction and governance of Internet content, resolutely builds the barrier for national cybersecurity, gives full play to the leading role of informatization, continuously deepens international cooperation in cyberspace, and makes historical achievements and changes in cyberspace affairs. The Report demonstrates the latest achievements of the departments in charge of cyberspace affairs in learning, publicizing and implementing the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and solidly promoting the implementation of the plans of the “14th Five-Year Plan” in the face of complex changes in domestic and international landscape. Over the past year, the top-level design in the key fields of cyberspace affairs was furthered optimized, which drew up the blueprint for the development of cyberspace affairs. Relevant departments steadily and energetically promoted the implementation of various plans and stably advanced the construction of information infrastructure. With the innovation and development of digital technologies, new advantages of digital economy became increasingly prominent. Digital public services moved towards the direction of inclusiveness, and the efficiency of digital government improved. China made remarkable results in the construction of cyber-civilization, and the cybersecurity guarantee system matured, with the cyberspace environment continually optimized. International exchanges in cyberspace increasingly enlarged, and the international influence of China in cyberspace kept rising. (3) The Report comprehensively, objectively, and accurately evaluates the Internet development in various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan), and displays the vivid practice of Internet development in various regions of China. The Report highlights the practice of China Internet development since 2021, comprehensively evaluates the Internet development in 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan), and presents the development level of Internet in various regions, from six dimensions (i.e. infrastructure construction, innovation capability, digital economy development, digital society development, cybersecurity, and cyberspace governance), on the basis of demonstration and guidance. The Report provides ideas for various regions to accurately utilize their advantages, further clarify strategic objectives and priorities of Internet development, and promote the construction of cyberspace affairs towards the goal of Building China into a Cyber Power. Hopefully, the Report objectively records the progress of China Internet development, comprehensively reflects new achievements, practices, and experiences of

Preface

vii

China Internet development, and provides information and materials for readers to understand China Internet development. Beijing, China September 2022

Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies (CACS)

Contents

1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 China Internet Development in 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1.1 China Leads the World in Internet Infrastructure Construction, with Its Layout of Integrated Big Data Center Completed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1.2 The Empowerment of Digital Economy Becomes Prominent and the Cultivation of Data Factor Market Accelerates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1.3 With the Efficiency of Digital Public Services Enhanced, Social Governance Develops in the Direction of Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1.4 Internet Mainstream Public Opinion is Enhanced and the Construction of Internet Civilization is Steadily Promoted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1.5 Cybersecurity Threats Become Complex and Intertwined, with Data Security Protection Systems in Cyberspace Enhanced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1.6 The Legal System is Basically Completed and Ecological Governance is Further Optimized in Cyberspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1.7 International Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace Are Carried Out in a Practical Way and the Pattern of Digital Cooperation is Continuously Constructed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 Internet Development in Various Provinces, Autonomous Regions and Municipalities Directly Under the Central Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2.1 Comprehensive Ranking of China Internet Development Index in 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2.2 The Rankings of the Second-Level Evaluation Indexes . . . . 1.3 Trends of China Internet Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1 2

2

4

5

7

9

10

11

13 15 19 23 ix

x

Contents

1.3.1 With the Integrated Development of Information Infrastructure, Intelligent Upgrading Accelerates . . . . . . . . . 1.3.2 Digital Technology Boosts Real Economy and Data Development and Utilization Continue to Improve . . . . . . . . 1.3.3 Digital Public Services Become More Inclusive and Equal and Digital Government Develops in an Optimized Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3.4 The Construction of New Pattern of Mainstream Public Opinion Accelerates, with the Innovation-Driven Development of New Forms of Internet Content . . . . . . . . . . 1.3.5 The Security Risks of New Technologies and Applications Prove Prominent and the Means of Data Security Protection Become Diversified . . . . . . . . . . 1.3.6 The Channels of International Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace Widen and China’s Contribution Continues to Increase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Construction of Information Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1 Outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 The Construction of Network Infrastructure is Continuously Consolidated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2.1 China Leads the World in the Construction of 5G Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2.2 Optical Broadband is Continuously Accelerated and Upgraded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2.3 The Large-Scale Deployment of IPv6 Continues to Advance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2.4 The Innovation in Navigation Satellite Market Remains Active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 Overall Layout in the Construction of Computing Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3.1 The Construction of Data Centers Advances in Large Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3.2 The Application Scope of Cloud Computing Continues to Expand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3.3 Edge Computing Develops Fast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4 The Construction of Application Infrastructure Quickens . . . . . . . . . 2.4.1 IoT Develops Fast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4.2 The Development of Industrial Internet Enters the “Fast Lane” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4.3 IoV Develops and Progresses Steadily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

24 25

26

27

28

29 31 31 31 32 34 36 37 39 39 40 41 43 43 45 48

Contents

3 The Development of Digital Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1 Outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2 The Support for the Policy Environment of Digital Economy Intensifies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2.1 Attaching Great Importance to the Healthy Development of Digital Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2.2 (Various Regions) Accelerating the Introduction of Policies on Digital Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2.3 Strengthening the Digital Support for Traditional Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2.4 The Governance System of Digital Economy Improves . . . . 3.3 The Construction of Data Factor Market Quickens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.3.1 Continuously Exploring and Building Data Factor Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.3.2 Making Innovation in Data Capitalization and Transaction Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.3.3 Successively Establishing Data Transaction Institutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.3.4 Promoting Cross-Border Data Transaction Business in an Orderly Manner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.4 Digital Industrialization Develops Sustainably and Stably . . . . . . . . 3.4.1 Electronic Information Manufacturing Industry Grows Sustainably and Steadily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.4.2 Software and IT Service Industry Operates Stably . . . . . . . . 3.4.3 Internet and Related Service Industries Develop Well . . . . . . 3.4.4 The Ecology of Internet Industry is Sustainably Optimized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5 Industrial Digitalization Continues to Deepen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5.1 The Construction of Digital Agriculture Efficiently Progresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5.2 Industrial Digital Transformation Advances Steadily . . . . . . 3.5.3 The Digital Transformation of Service Industry Quickens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6 The Coordinated Digital and Green Development Continuously Advances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6.1 The Green Development of New-Type Information Infrastructure Accelerates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6.2 The Green Development of Electronic Industry Continuously Progresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.6.3 Digital Technology Expedites Green Industrial Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

xi

51 51 51 52 53 53 55 56 57 58 59 59 61 61 63 63 67 69 69 70 71 73 74 75 76

xii

Contents

3.7 New Business Forms and Models and New Technologies of Digital Economy Continue to Emerge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.7.1 New Technologies and Applications Closely Follow the Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.7.2 Digital Collection Drives the Trend of Online Cultural Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.7.3 New Individual Economy Stimulates Innovation and Business Potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.7.4 Community Group Purchasing Re-emerges Against the Backdrop of the COVID-19 Pandemic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The Construction of Digital Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1 Outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2 Overall Planning and Construction Continue to Advance . . . . . . . . . 4.2.1 China Further Improves Top-Level Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2.2 Various Regions Actively Carry Out Planning and Deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2.3 The Construction and Implementation of Systems and Platforms Progress Steadily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.3 Digital Service Capability Further Improves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.3.1 Remarkable Results are Made in the Construction of National Integrated Government Service Platform . . . . . . 4.3.2 Breakthroughs are Made in the Coordination of Handing Inter-provincial Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.4 The Level of Data Sharing, Opening, Development and Utilization Continues to Rise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.4.1 Significant Achievements Are Made in Government Data Sharing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.4.2 The Number of Government Data Opening Platforms Increases Significantly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.4.3 The Development and Utilization of Government Data Resources Continue to Deepen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5 New Methods and Technologies Help to Improve Quality and Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5.1 Performing Duties on Apps Becomes More Intelligent and Convenient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5.2 AI Helps to Improve the Intelligent Level of Government Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5.3 Privacy Computing Helps to Solve the Problem of “Isolated Data Island” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.5.4 Blockchain Helps Inter-regional Collaboration of Government Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

78 78 79 80 81 83 83 83 84 85 89 93 93 94 95 96 98 99 101 101 102 102 103

Contents

xiii

5 The Construction of Digital Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.1 Outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2 Public Services Become More Intelligent and Convenient . . . . . . . . 5.2.1 The Service Level of People’s Livelihood Improves Significantly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2.2 Significant Results Are Produced in Key Fields and Use Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2.3 Digital Cultural Tourism Creates a New Life Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3 The Construction of New-Type Smart City is Continuously Explored and Promoted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3.1 The Exploration and Construction of Digital Twin City Accelerate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3.2 Relevant Departments Implement the Management and Operation Model of “Unified Management via Internet” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3.3 The Construction of Smart Community Speeds up . . . . . . . . 5.4 The Construction of “Digital Village” Progresses Steadily . . . . . . . . 5.4.1 Policy Guidance and Support Are Continuously Strengthened . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.4.2 Digital Village Infrastructure Continues to Improve . . . . . . . 5.4.3 The Modernization of Rural Governance is Boosted by Digital Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5 The Service of “Benefiting Citizens with Digital Means” in Rural Areas Improves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6 New Pictures of Digital Life Shared by All People Are Continuously Constructed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6.1 Relevant Departments Improve the Digital Literacy of All People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6.2 Digitalization Boosts Inclusive Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.7 “Digital Anti-pandemic” Achieves Remarkable Results . . . . . . . . . . 5.7.1 Governments Promote the Sharing of Pandemic Prevention Data and Strengthen the Release of Authoritative Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.7.2 Social Organizations Participate in the Pandemic Prevention and Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.7.3 Enterprises Make Contributions to the Pandemic Prevention and Control via Multiple Channels . . . . . . . . . . . .

105 105 105

6 The Construction of Internet Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.1 Outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2 Significant Achievements Are Made in the Construction of Internet Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2.1 Mainstream Media Step up Efforts to Participate in Major Issues and Topics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

127 127

106 107 109 110 110

111 112 113 114 114 115 117 117 118 119 121

121 124 125

128 128

xiv

Contents

6.2.2 Significant Achievements Are Made in the Construction of Internet Civilization, and New Trends and Social Integrity Are Constantly Carried Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2.3 Overseas Communication Steadily Advances . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2.4 Internet Content Products Meet Users’ Needs in the COVID-19 Pandemic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.3 Accelerating the Construction of Comprehensive Internet Governance System and Building Healthy Internet Ecology . . . . . . 6.3.1 Upholding Comprehensive Governance and Pooling Concerted Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.3.2 Arousing the Enthusiasm of Multiple Parties for Participation in Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.3.3 Strengthening the Protection of the Minors and Highlighting the Young Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.4 Digital Culture Continuously Develops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.4.1 Policies and Regulations on Internet Culture Continually Improve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.4.2 New Progress is Made in the Digitization of Public Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.4.3 Digital Culture Industry Develops Rapidly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.5 The Integration and Innovation-Based Development of Internet Media Comes to a New Stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.5.1 Media Integration Focuses on Online-Offline Connection and Platform Linkage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.5.2 Immersive Media Come to Rise and Augment the Integration of Reality and Virtuality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.5.3 The “Content + Service” Model Further Develops . . . . . . . . 6.5.4 Cutting-Edge Technologies Promote the Innovation in Media Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Construction of Cybersecurity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.1 Outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.2 Overall Situation of Cybersecurity Becomes Severe and Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.2.1 Typical Threats to Cybersecurity Remain Serious . . . . . . . . . 7.2.2 The Cybersecurity Risks in Key Fields Become Prominent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.3 Cybersecurity is Solidly Protected and Guaranteed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.3.1 The Protection of the Security of Critical Information Infrastructure is Continuously Carried Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.3.2 The Work of Data Security and Personal Information Protection Continues to Deepen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.3.3 The Work of Cybersecurity Review Deepens . . . . . . . . . . . . .

131 135 137 141 142 144 146 148 148 149 151 152 152 153 154 155 157 157 157 158 159 162 163 163 164

Contents

7.3.4 The Protection of Cybersecurity and Data Security of Connected Vehicles is Strengthened . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.3.5 The Work of Cybersecurity and Data Security in Industrial Internet is Gradually Carried Out . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.3.6 The Work of Cybersecurity Standardization Steadily Progresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.4 The Settlement of Cybersecurity Incidents and the Special Campaigns of Cybersecurity Problems Are Deeply Carried Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.4.1 The Special Campaign of Solving Prominent Cybersecurity Problems is Steadily Promoted . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.4.2 Telecom Network Fraud and Other Cybercrimes Are Punished According to Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.5 Cybersecurity Industry and Cybersecurity Technology Develop Stably . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.5.1 The Development Environment of Cybersecurity Industry Continues to Improve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.5.2 The Market Scale of Cybersecurity Industry Expands and Related Investment and Financing Thrives . . . . . . . . . . . 7.5.3 The Construction of Cybersecurity Industrial Parks Steadily Advances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.6 The Work of Cybersecurity Talent Training and Publicity and Education Steadily Progresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.6.1 The Demand for Cybersecurity Talents Continues to Grow, with the Problem of Insufficient Supply . . . . . . . . . 7.6.2 The Training of Cybersecurity Talents is Continuously Enhanced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.6.3 Remarkable Achievements Are Made in Cybersecurity Publicity and Education and Security Awareness Cultivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Rule-of-Law Construction in Cyberspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.1 Outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.2 The Legal System of Cybersecurity Significantly Improves and Comprehensively Raises the Capability or Level of Cyberspace Governance and Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.2.1 The Protection System of Critical Information Infrastructure Security Takes Shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.2.2 The Legislation, Law-Enforcement and Jurisdiction of Personal Information Protection Advance Side by Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.2.3 The System of Cybersecurity Review Improves . . . . . . . . . . . 8.2.4 The System of Data Governance Continues to Deepen . . . . .

xv

165 166 167

169 169 171 172 172 173 175 176 177 178

180 183 183

184 184

185 187 187

xvi

Contents

8.3 Relevant Departments Strengthen the Governance of Cyberspace Ecology According to Law and Create a Clear Cyberspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.3.1 Strictly Managing the Account Information of Internet Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.3.2 Improving Legislation on the Protection of the Minors in Cyberspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.3.3 Promulgating the Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.4 Relevant Departments Continue to Deepen the Governance of Internet Platforms and Improve the Anti-monopoly Law-Enforcement Mechanism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.4.1 Strengthening the Management of Internet Platform Service Standards and the Responsibilities of Internet Platforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.4.2 Promoting the Operation of Livestreaming Marketing According to Laws and Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.4.3 Augmenting the Anti-monopoly Legislation and Law-Enforcement of Platforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.5 Relevant Departments Tussle with the Challenges and Risks to Digital Technology and Strengthen the Governance of the Rules on Digital Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.5.1 Basic Framework of Algorithm Governance Takes Shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.5.2 The Top-Level Design of IoV Framework Continues to Improve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.5.3 Regulations on the Governance of AI and Deep Synthesis Technology Improve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.6 Empowering Digital Law-Based Reform and Jointly Building a Harmonious Law-Based Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.6.1 Smart Jurisdiction Facilitates the Development of Digital Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.6.2 Law Popularization in Cyberspace Wins Support Among the Public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.6.3 Industrial Self-discipline Campaign Highlights the Awareness of Social Responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 International Governance, Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.1 Outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.2 Circumstances of China’s Participation in International Cyberspace Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.2.1 The Influence of Geopolitics on International Cyberspace Governance Continues to Increase . . . . . . . . . . .

189 189 190 190

191

191 192 193

194 195 196 197 197 198 199 200 203 203 204 204

Contents

9.2.2 It is an Urgent Task to Formulate Uniform International Rules in the Field of Global Digital Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.2.3 The Role of Social Media Platforms in Major Global Events Becomes Increasingly Prominent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.3 Existing Hot Issues in International Cyberspace Governance and Practices in China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.3.1 Cybersecurity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.3.2 Digital Economy and Digital Trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.3.3 Internet Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.4 China Energetically Carries Out International Exchanges and Cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.4.1 Building an International Cooperation Platform in Cyberspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.4.2 Participating in the Governance Process Under the UN Framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.4.3 Promoting International Exchanges and Cooperation in the Fields of Digital Economy and Digital Trade . . . . . . . 9.4.4 Continuously Carrying Out International Cooperation in Cybersecurity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.4.5 Actively Promoting the Formulation of International Rules in the Fields of Information Technologies and Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.4.6 Actively Participating in Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of Internet Basic Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.4.7 Deepening International Cooperation in the Field of Data Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.4.8 Promoting the Cooperation and Cultural Exchanges and Mutual Learning of Online Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

xvii

205 206 206 207 207 208 209 209 211 213 215

218 219 219 220

Postscript . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221

Chapter 1

Overview

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core has taken the initiative in following the trend of information revolution, attached great importance to cyberspace administration, and geared up for historical achievements and changes in cyberspace administration in an all-round way. Now, China develops from a big country in cyberspace to a strong cyberpower. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially his important thought on building China into a strong cyberpower, the Communist Party of China strengthens the centralized leadership over cyberspace administration, propagates mainstream socialist values and positive energy in cyberspace, improves comprehensive cyberspace governance systems, and accelerates the pace of Internet infrastructure construction. Digital economy develops robustly. With breakthroughs in coretechnology independent innovation in the information field, China makes remarkable achievements in benefiting people with information. China comprehensively enhances cybersecurity guarantee systems and capacity, quickly promotes the ruleof-law construction in cyberspace, and deeply expands international cooperation in cyberspace. 2022 saw the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and marked an important year for China to enter a new journey of comprehensively building a socialist modern country and marching toward the second centenary goal. Our world today is living through accelerating changes unseen in a century and continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. They confront humanity with unprecedented challenges and usher in a new phase of instability and transformation for global development. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict erupts, and the game between major powers escalates. The instability and uncertainty of global development increase significantly, and the threats of unilateralism, protectionism, hegemonism and power politics to world peace and development rise sharply. Cyber war and public opinion war continue to evolve and escalate, global industrial chain and supply chain undergone profound adjustments, and various countries compete for voices in international discourse and rule-making power in cyberspace. © Publishing House of Electronics Industry 2024 China Internet Development Report 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5130-7_1

1

2

1 Overview

Standing at a new historical starting point, we take into account domestic and international landscape, bear in mind China’s most fundamental interests, and are proactive in adapting to the changes in the new development stage. We closely focus on the central work of learning, propagating and implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, seize the development opportunities in the digital era, optimize the top-level design of major fields such as digital economy and digital government, and accelerate digital transformation in all fields. Accordingly, new advancements and achievements are made in the fields of Internet content construction and management, cybersecurity, IT-based development, and international exchanges and cooperation in cyberspace, and efforts are stepped up to bring the work of cyberspace administration to a new level.

1.1 China Internet Development in 2022 Over the past year, China firmly grasped the historical opportunity, accelerated the construction of information infrastructure, strengthened, optimized and expanded digital economy, raised the efficiency of digital government, improved the digitization of public services, enhanced the construction of comprehensive cyberspace governance systems, facilitated the rule-of-law construction in cyberspace, reinforced the governance of cybersecurity and data security, deepened international exchanges and cooperation in cyberspace, and made a series of new achievements in Internet development.

1.1.1 China Leads the World in Internet Infrastructure Construction, with Its Layout of Integrated Big Data Center Completed General Secretary Xi Jinping stresses that: “We should strengthen the strategic layout and accelerate building the high-speed, ubiquitous, intelligent and comprehensive digital information infrastructure that integrates space and ground, and the cloud and the internet and features 5G network, a national integrated data center system and national industrial Internet. It should also be green, low-carbon, secure and controllable, unclogging the information ‘artery’ of economic and social development.” In the past year, China quickened the construction of Internet infrastructure, systematically promoted the construction and development of 5G, gigabit optical-fiber network and data center and the transformation and upgrading of traditional infrastructure, comprehensively laid out computing infrastructure, completed overall layout and design of the national integrated big data center system, and continuously accelerated the construction of applied infrastructure, with the rapid advancement of the

1.1 China Internet Development in 2022

3

Internet of Things (IoT), industrial Internet, the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) and other fields. China builds the largest-scale 5G network in the world and continuously expands the use cases of 5G. By June 2022, a total of 1,854,000 5G base stations had been built and opened. The application of 5G covered such fields as industry, agriculture and service industry, and the number of 5G use cases exceeded 20,000.1 Opticalfiber broadband was quickly upgraded, and the construction of gigabit broadband network was accelerated. With the number of users reaching 55.911 million, more than 300 cities nationwide started the construction of gigabit optical-fiber network, and all prefecture-level cities fully built “optical-fiber network cities”. The largescale deployment and application of IPv6 continue to advance. By July 2022, the number of active users in China reached 693 million, accounting for 67.1% of the total number of Internet users.2 The construction of air-ground integrated network speeds up, and the construction of satellite Internet enters a stage of rapid development. With the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) applied on a large scale, BDS industrialization level continues to improve. In 2021, the total scale of satellite navigation and location service industry realized 469 billion yuan.3 China coordinates the construction of computing infrastructure. By June 2022, the total scale of computing power in China exceeded 150 EFlop/s, ranking the 2nd in the world. China completes the overall layout of the national integrated big data center system and launches “Channeling Computing Resources from the East to the West” Project in an all-round way. Besides, China expedites the construction of eight national computing hub nodes, including Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The provinces covered by the nodes have clarified the goals of data-center rack construction and the utilization rate of power in the 14th Five-Year Plan period. The process of application infrastructure progresses. The system of IoT matures, the application and service of industrial Internet continuously deepens, and the implementation of IoV accelerates. IoT develops in the direction of lower power-consumption, greater bandwidth and stronger connectivity. IoT industrial scale continues to expand. In 2021, the industrial scale of China’s IoT exceeded 1.7 trillion yuan, and would exceed two trillion yuan in 2022.4 Industrial Internet enters the “fast lane”. With the industrial development speeding up, three major systems of network, platform and security achieve largescale development. By June 2022, a multi-level industrial Internet platform system at the national, industrial and corporate levels began to take shape. There were more than 150 characteristic platforms with industrial influence, more than 79 million industrial devices (sets), more than 1.6 million service industrial enterprises, and more than 280,000 domestic industrial apps. The deployment of IoV infrastructure

1

Data Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Data Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. 3 Data Source: 2022 White Paper on the Development of China’s Navigation Satellite and Location Service Industry published by GNSS and LBS Association of China. 4 Data Source: Internet Society of China. 2

4

1 Overview

advances in an orderly way. China builds pilot cities for the coordinated development of smart-city infrastructure and intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs), boosts the upgrading and transformation of vehicle networks at key expressways, completes the intelligent upgrading of more than 3500 km of roads, and deploys more than 4000 roadside communication units.

1.1.2 The Empowerment of Digital Economy Becomes Prominent and the Cultivation of Data Factor Market Accelerates Developing digital economy means a strategic choice to seize new opportunities brought by a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. Digital economy serves as an important engine of economic growth. Over the past year, China firmly grasped important strategic opportunities, strengthened the top-level design of digital economy, deepened the integration of digital technology and real economy, empowered the digital transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, gave impetus for high-quality development, and spurred new business forms and models via technology and application-driven innovation, which vitalized economic growth. The State Council issues The Plan for Development of the Digital Economy During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period. Various regions successively release development plans or action plans for the development of digital economy during the 14th FiveYear Plan period, clarify development goals for digital economy during the 14th FiveYear Plan period, and draw up blueprints for the development of digital economy. China makes remarkable achievements in the development of digital economy. Digital economy, core industries in particular, becomes an important cornerstone of stable economic development. As relevant data suggested, in 2021, the scale of digital economy in China reached 45.5 trillion yuan, accounting for 39.8% of the GDP.5 Data functions as a key factor of production for the development of digital economy, basic national strategic resources, and an important engine to promote high-quality economic and social development. In 2021, China’s data output reached 6.6 ZB, with a year-on-year increase of 29.4%, ranking the 2nd in the world.6 Various regions energetically participate in the construction of data trading centers. Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing successively establish data trading centers (institutions). The development and utilization of data resources produce initial results, with continuous innovations in operation models of data assets. Digital industrialization

5

Data Source: China Digital Economy Development Report 2022 published by China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). 6 Data Source: National Data Resources Survey Report 2021 published by Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies (CACS) and China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT).

1.1 China Internet Development in 2022

5

continues to develop steadily, and telecom industry, electronic information manufacturing industry, software and IT service industry, Internet and relevant service industries maintain stable growth. The transformation of industrial digitalization continues to accelerate and becomes a main engine for the development of digital economy. The intelligent level of agricultural production significantly improves. In 2021, rural online retail volume reached 2.1 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 11.3%.7 New business forms and models such as “customized agriculture” and “cloud farm” are in full swing. The transformation of industrial digitalization helps enterprises realize intelligent control and operation optimization as well as the optimization and transformation of production and organization models, and promote the upgrading of industrial chains and supply chains. By June 2022, the CNC rate of key processes and the popularization rate of digital R&D and design tools of above-designated-size industrial enterprises in China reached 55.7% and 75.1% respectively.8 The typical cases and applications of “5G + industrial Internet” in key industries increase, and new models like digital factory and smart mine emerge. China seizes the opportunities of the digital transformation of service industry, develops rapidly in the digitization of finance, transportation, logistics and other fields, and takes the lead in the scale of e-commerce and mobile payment. Digital technology furthers information-system interconnection of logistical ecology, and realizes one-stop logistics services that can be monitored and traced in the whole process. Digital consumption of life services becomes one of the important drivers of consumption growth in China, and the market scale of online car-hailing and online takeout continually expands. The development of digital economy triggers new business forms and models like digital collection business, and catalyzes digital occupations like “Internet marketer” and “delivery personnel for online orders”. Digital employment becomes a trend and an important source of new employment.

1.1.3 With the Efficiency of Digital Public Services Enhanced, Social Governance Develops in the Direction of Intelligence Digital services provide an important path to meet people’s needs for a better life. Over the past year, China always made realizing, safeguarding and developing the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people the starting point and goal of development, continuously accelerated the construction of digital society and digital government, promoted the integrated development of smart city and digital village, improved the inclusiveness of limited resources, significantly raised the efficiency of digital government, enabled people to share the achievements of information-based development, and met diverse and personal needs of people, so as to continuously enhance people’s sense of gain. 7 8

Data Source: Ministry of Commerce. Data Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

6

1 Overview

Internet penetration rate and user scale in China grow steadily. By June 2022, the number of Chinese Internet users had reached 1.051 billion, with an Internet penetration rate of 74.4%.9 Under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, online education and digital health services become popular. Simultaneously, the national public service system of digital education resources continuously improves. 233 platforms at various levels are connected, and a total of 176 educational service applications are put into use, which are available to teachers and students free of charge. In this way, equity in education can benefit larger groups.10 Telemedicine covers all prefecture-level cities and more than 90% of counties (county-level cities and districts) in China, initially forming online-offline integrated medical services. China makes a significant breakthrough in the informatization and standardization of medical insurance and fully establishes a unified national medical insurance information platform, which provides 1.36 billion insured citizens with medical insurance services such as self-service filing and direct settlement for hospitalization in different cities and provinces.11 China continuously enlarges the inclusiveness of digital life, and strengthens the barrier-free construction of digital devices and digital services for information exchange. The transformation of the elderly-friendly Internet applications deeply advances, which improves digital social services for special groups. Various regions timely launch the function of “health code query for the old and the young” in terms of health code query. By June 2022, 452 websites and apps had completed the elderly-friendly transformation and barrier-free-level evaluation.12 The construction of new-type smart cities continues to deepen, and various regions deeply tap their smart capabilities in line with local characteristics, so as to promote the construction of intelligent, digital and connected cities. As China Smart City Working Committee predicted, in 2022, the market scale of smart cities in China reached 25 trillion yuan.13 The urban–rural digital divide is further bridged, the use cases of agricultural informatization is increasingly diversified, and the degree of rural digital governance is continuously improved. “Internet + government services” extends to rural areas. Online means popularize high-quality resources like medical care and education in rural areas, and the applications of digital platforms like “Xiang Cun Ding” and “Cun Cun Xiang” optimize rural governance. Integrated government service capacity is continuously enhanced, the efficiency and convenience of handling government affairs is enormously improved, and “handling affairs via websites” “handling affairs via apps” and “one-website handling” are deeply promoted. The national integrated government service platform has over 950 9 Data Source: The 50th Statistical Report on China Internet Development released by China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC). 10 Data Source: Digital China Development Report 2021 published by Cyberspace Administration of China. 11 Data Source: National Healthcare Security Administration. 12 Data Source: White Paper on Information Accessibility 2022 published by China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). 13 Data Source: Building New-Type Smart Cities by Relying on Smart Services: White Paper on Smart Cities 2022 jointly published by National Industrial Information Security Development Research Center, Internet + Development Association of China and other organizations.

1.1 China Internet Development in 2022

7

million real-name registered users, with more than 62 billion visits in total. 90.5% of provincial administrative licensing affairs have been accepted online and handled one time at most, with the average promised time limit reduced by 51%.14 Remarkable success has been achieved in data opening and sharing. Presently, 24 provincial public data-opening platforms are built, and c. 250,000 effective data sets are opened. In total, more than 660,000 online directories are formed on the national data sharing and exchange platform, and more than 1000 sharing interfaces are opened.15 The digitaltechnology-based fight against the pandemic accelerates the opening and sharing of government data. Based on the national integrated government service platform, relevant departments gather pandemic prevention and control data, share data on confirmed cases, nucleic acid testing and vaccination more than 230 billion times, support the sharing and exchange of “health code” information in various regions more than 64.8 billion times, and promote “one code pass” of “health code” across the country.16

1.1.4 Internet Mainstream Public Opinion is Enhanced and the Construction of Internet Civilization is Steadily Promoted Internet civilization constitutes an important part of social civilization under new circumstances. “We should adhere to the coordination of development and governance and the integration of online and offline media to form a powerful source of aspiration for the pursuit of excellence and moral integrity.” China actively promotes the construction of Internet content, closely follows annual events, plans major publicity themes, innovates publicity forms, creates attractive content products, and propagates Internet positive energy. China makes good use of new technologies and international media platforms to disseminate Chinese culture, tells China’s stories well, deepens the governance of Internet ecology, launches regular special actions, and cooperates with various parties to build a clear cyberspace. In 2022, focusing on the central work of welcoming, publicizing and implementing the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, mainstream media strengthened the dissemination of the Party’s theories on innovation, planned and organized a series of vivid, down-to-earth, high-spirited and energetic excellent works, and launched columns such as Li Shang Wang Lai, Shi Shuo Xin Yu and Mei Ri Yi Xi Yu to present a panorama of China’s development achievements in the new era. Centering on such important events as Beijing Winter Olympics, the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Youth League and the 25th Anniversary of Hong Kong’s Return to the Motherland, mainstream media made a series of publicity reports, realized the linkage between official media and We Media, and continuously 14

Data Source: General Office of the State Council. Data Source: National Data Sharing and Exchange Platform. 16 Data Source: General Office of the State Council. 15

8

1 Overview

improved the attractiveness of content. The functions of media continue to extend and develop into comprehensive platforms, providing users with content services, government services and daily life services and effectively realizing the linkage and innovation of content and services. Online short videos developed rapidly, and the livestreaming industry, especially the livestreaming on sports, health and knowledge, became popular. The development of digital culture achieved remarkable results. With the help of digital technologies such as metaverse, VR and blockchain, new business forms such as online broadcasting and immersive experience were constantly enriched and developed. Demonstration projects such as Long Feng Cheng Xiang and Wu Shang Chun were broadcast and staged. Relevant departments boosted the construction of “5G smart theater” and continually explored and practiced the business model of online broadcast. By building immersive scenes of online and offline collaboration, Night Tour of Jinjiang from Chengdu, 8:30 in Suzhou from Suzhou and other projects were launched, which organically combined cultural experience with commercial consumption, social entertainment and online livestreaming. Innovative forms of Internet communication achieved remarkable progress. Mainstream media told the stories of Beijing Winter Olympics in multiple forms, languages and channels, and disseminated the success of “Digital Winter Olympics”. China scored remarkable success in the construction of Internet civilization. It hosted “China Internet Civilization Conference” in 2021 and 2022, strengthened the deployment of “China’s Good Internet Users Project”, publicized and promoted excellent works on Internet positive energy, deeply implemented Internet public welfare projects, and upheld the principle of “governing Internet, using Internet and browsing Internet in a civilized manner”, with building a beautiful spiritual home on the Internet as a consensus. China continued to build a comprehensive cyberspace governance system and tighten up the regulation of Internet accounts, mobile Internet apps, algorithmic recommendation and other fields. Relevant departments focused on prominent problems that aroused wide attention of the CPC Central Committee and prompted the strongest public reaction, continuously carried out a series of “Internet clean-up campaign”, laid stress on the rectification of the malpractices like undesirable fan culture, activities of hiring paid posters and illegal livestreaming and short videos, and purified Internet environment. Multiple entities like enterprises, Internet users and social organizations actively participated in cyberspace governance. Enterprises fulfilled their social responsibilities. Internet users improved Internet literacy and took part in reporting illegal and harmful information. Social organizations played a bridging role, promoted industrial self-discipline and contributed to public welfare publicity. Accordingly, the social integrity system was constantly improved.

1.1 China Internet Development in 2022

9

1.1.5 Cybersecurity Threats Become Complex and Intertwined, with Data Security Protection Systems in Cyberspace Enhanced Right now, changes of the world, of our times and of history are unfolding in ways like never before. These changes are posing challenges that must be taken seriously by humanity. Over the past year, the trend of cyberspace confrontation intensified, large-scale targeted cyberattacks increased, and security vulnerability, data leakage, software supply chain security and other risks became prominent. In the face of increasingly complex and severe cybersecurity landscape, China upholds a holistic approach to national security, vigorously strengthens cybersecurity construction in data security, personal information protection, critical infrastructure protection and other fields, and takes multiple measures to quicken the development of cybersecurity industry. The scale of cybersecurity market grows steadily. China continues to strengthen the publicity and education of cybersecurity and the training of talents, so as to create an atmosphere in which responsibilities are shared and duly fulfilled, and achievements are enjoyed by all. As new-generation IT represented by 5G and AI is deeply integrated with real economy, security risks are quickly spread, penetrated, interwoven and amplified. Overall cybersecurity situation becomes grim and complex. With ransomware attacks industrialized, the methods of DDoS attacks keep evolving, and threats to vulnerability security paint a grim picture. In 2021, China National Vulnerability Database (CNVD) totally recorded 26,564 general-purpose software and hardware vulnerabilities, with a trend of continuous growth. The number of “zero-day” vulnerability increased by 68.0% year on year. The risks of cyberattacks on industrial control system, IoV and IoT enlarge. Faced with the challenges of cybersecurity risks, China makes solid progress in ensuring cybersecurity, continuously strengthens data security management and personal information protection, basically establishes data security protection systems, and gradually improves relevant regulations on data-exit security and cybersecurity review. China formulates a number of urgently-needed key standards, such as data security, personal information protection and critical information infrastructure security protection, which effectively supports the implementation of major tasks and laws and regulations in relation to national cybersecurity. China solidly promotes the solution and rectification of Internet security incidents, and continually launches special campaigns for protecting personal information on apps. Simultaneously, relevant departments regularly receive complaints and reports about illegal collection and use of personal information on apps, with remarkable results in cyberspace governance. Relevant departments punish telecom network fraud and other cybercrimes in accordance with law. In “Internet clean-up campaign 2021”, national public security organs solve more than 60,000 cases and build a national antifraud platform to dissuade the public from telecom network fraud via Internet early warning. China energetically boosts the high-quality development of cybersecurity industry and improves the technological level and competitiveness of cybersecurity industry. According to statistics, in 2021, the scale of cybersecurity industry in China

10

1 Overview

approximated to 61.4 billion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 15.4%.17 China accelerates the cultivation of cybersecurity talents, strengthens the construction of first-class cybersecurity colleges, promotes the construction of national cybersecurity talent and innovation bases, and continues to implement “10,000 Talents Training Plan in Cybersecurity”. In 2021, the cumulative number of trainee exceeded 10,000. On the themes of “Cybersecurity Serving and Depending on the People” and “Providing Practical Services for the Masses”, China organizes and conducts national and local cybersecurity publicity week activities, which effectively enhance the awareness of cybersecurity among Internet users.

1.1.6 The Legal System is Basically Completed and Ecological Governance is Further Optimized in Cyberspace The Outline for the Implementation of the Construction of Ruled-by-Law Government 2021–2025 proposes to follow up and consider relevant legal systems on digital economy, ITFIN, AI, big data and cloud computing in a timely manner, sustainably tackle technological weaknesses, and ensure the healthy development of new business forms and models with good laws and good governance. Over the past year, China strengthened rule-of-law construction in cyberspace, comprehensively launched and improved legislation on cybersecurity, data governance, ecological governance in cyberspace and platform governance, and constantly optimized the cyber ecosystem. The pillars of cybersecurity laws are starting to take shape. Since 2021, China has promulgated laws and regulations such as The Data Security Law of the People’s Republic of China, The Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and The Regulations on the Security Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure, revised The Measures for Cybersecurity Review, issued The Measures for Data-Exit Security Evaluation and The Practical Guidelines for Cybersecurity Standards: Guidance on the Classification and Gradation of Cyberspace Data, and drafted regulations and rules such as The Regulations on the Administration of Cyberspace Data Security (Draft for Comments), The Provisions on Contracts for Personal Information Exit Standards (Draft for Comments) and The Guidelines for the Identification of Important Data on Information Security Technology (Draft for Comments). Various regions have released data regulations to regulate data rights and interests and the construction of data factor market. Focusing on new business forms and new technologies, comprehensive cyberspace governance has been continuously strengthened and optimized. China has also issued departmental regulations such as The Regulations on the Management of Internet User Account Information, revised normative documents such as The Regulations on the Management of Internet Followup Comment Service and The Regulations on the Management of Mobile Internet Application Information Services, strengthened the normative management of new 17

Data Source: China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance (CCIA).

1.1 China Internet Development in 2022

11

technologies like algorithmic recommendation and deep synthesis, published The Regulations on the Management of Internet Information Service Algorithmic Recommendation, and released New-Generation Artificial Intelligence Ethics to avoid technological abuse. With high-quality development of legislation in the field of social governance, relevant departments focus on the governance of platform economy and the protection of major groups. In order to strengthen the anti-monopoly of platforms and standardize the healthy and sustainable growth of platform economy, National Development and Reform Commission and other departments jointly issue Several Opinions on Promoting the Standardized, Healthy and Sustainable Development of Platform Economy, and the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress deliberates and adopts The Decision on Amending The Anti-Monopoly Law of the People’s Republic of China. They further clarify the specific applicable rules of anti-monopoly-related systems in platform economy. China promotes the lawful and compliant operation of livestreaming, prints and distributes opinions or documents, regulates livestreaming from aspects of livestreaming platform, online marketing behavior, and tax management, punishes several network anchors for tax evasion, and continuously augments the protection of the minors. China enhances law-enforcement in cyberspace. Departments of cyberspace administration at all levels adopt various punitive means such as summoning relevant organizations for talks, ordering relevant organizations to take rectificatory measures, handling accounts, removing applications, halting functions or updates and shutting down websites. According to statistics, in the first half of 2022, departments of cyberspace administration summoned 3491 website platforms for talks according to law, warned 3052 website platforms, and shut down 12,292 illegal websites or canceled their qualifications for license or filing together with competent departments of telecommunications. This produced remarkable results. Relevant parties pool efforts to build a pan-law-popularization pattern in cyberspace, mobilize social forces, focus on major fields, attach equal importance to law-popularization and governance, give play to the advantages of the Internet, and improve the pertinence and effectiveness of law popularization.

1.1.7 International Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace Are Carried Out in a Practical Way and the Pattern of Digital Cooperation is Continuously Constructed General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes that “We should pay close attention to and take the initiative in participating in the negotiations of international organizations on digital economy, carrying out bilateral and multilateral cooperation in digital governance, maintaining and improving multilateral digital-economy governance mechanism, contributing China’s solutions and making China’s voice heard”. In the past year, China actively and pragmatically launched international exchanges

12

1 Overview

and cooperation in cyberspace, forged multi-level global digital partnership, voluntarily engaged in the construction of multilateral governance of digital economy, participated in the discussion on hot topics in cyberspace governance, and continued to facilitate building a community with a shared future in cyberspace. This fully demonstrated the role of China as a responsible power. China constantly puts forward initiatives and propositions and provides public products to international community. In September 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed Global Development Initiative at the United Nations General Assembly, which received the response and support from the United Nations and other international organizations as well as nearly 100 countries. At Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward Global Security Initiative that mainly consists of “Six Needs”. The two initiatives provide solutions to two major issues of world peace and development, new ideas for improving global governance, and new support for the common development of various countries. China plays an active part in the UN Internet governance agenda and urges various parties to jointly explore and formulate international rules on cyberspace. China holds the open forum of the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF), participates in IGF Expert Group Meeting, discusses the future development direction of IGF, takes part in the UN Information Security Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) and Group of Governmental Experts (GGE), the Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of ICTs for Criminal Purposes, and the United Nations Human Rights Council, expounds propositions and views, and presents ideas on cyberspace governance. China establishes international organizations like World Internet Conference, builds a global Internet platform for joint contribution and shared benefits, urges international community to conform to the trend of digitalization, networking and intelligentization in the era of information, jointly addresses challenges to cybersecurity, seeks development and welfare in cyberspace, and works together to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace. China holds World Internet Conference for consecutive years. In World Internet Conference in 2021, China organized the Release and Presentation of Outstanding Cases of Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace” for the first time, which fully demonstrated sincere wishes and unremitting efforts of international community to jointly build a community with a shared future in cyberspace, and played a positive exemplary role in deepening digital cooperation among various parties. China strengthens bilateral and multilateral exchanges and cooperation, and deepens the cooperation with the European Union, ASEAN and BRICS in the field of digital economy. In 2021, China formally applied to join Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). In January 2022, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) officially came into effect, which boosted regional digital economic exchanges and cooperation and win–win development. China reaches The BRICS Digital Economy Partnership Framework and The BRICS Initiative on Enhancing Cooperation on Supply Chains with BRICS countries, fully demonstrating China’s responsibility to actively participate in international cooperation in digital economy and the formulation of relevant

1.2 Internet Development in Various Provinces, Autonomous Regions …

13

rules. China and the five Central Asian countries reached China + Five Central Asian Countries Data Security Cooperation Initiative, marking a further step forward in China’s Global Initiative on Data Security.

1.2 Internet Development in Various Provinces, Autonomous Regions and Municipalities Directly Under the Central Government Since 2017, China Internet Development Report has released China Internet Development Index. Guided by General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on building China into a strong cyberpower, China Internet Development Index aims to conduct comprehensive evaluation of the achievements and levels of Internet development in various provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, hereinafter inclusive), by building an objective, truthful and accurate comprehensive evaluation index system. In this way, various regions can further clarify the strategic objectives and priorities of Internet development, accurately utilize comparative and regional advantages in Internet development, and promote building China into a strong cyberpower in cyberspace administration. China Internet Development Index System covers six aspects, i.e. information infrastructure construction, innovation capacity, digital economy development, digital society development, cybersecurity and cyberspace governance. It comprehensively showcases Internet development of 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government in China, and provides a quantifiable reference for them in Internet development. Grounded in the index system in 2021, the evaluation index in 2021 takes into account Internet development in various regions, widely solicits opinions from national departments, provinces and cities, think tanks on cyberspace administration and experts in relevant fields, and redesigns or improves the index system. On the premise of basically adopting original indexes, China Internet Development Index System in 2022 adjusts the First-Level Index in line with new circumstances. In the First-Level Index, the original “Internet Application Index” is changed to “Digital Society Development Index”, and the SecondLevel Index is adjusted accordingly. Simultaneously, the weight of Digital Economy Development Index is appropriately increased. “Overview” Table 1.1 shows China Internet Development Index System. In order to ensure the authenticity, entirety and accuracy of data, the evaluation data of China Internet Development Index in 2022 mainly stem from the statistical data of Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, National Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology and other departments and institutions, the statistical data of relevant cyberspace administration departments in various provinces, autonomous regions

14

1 Overview

Table 1.1 China internet development index system The first-level index

The second-level index

Description

Infrastructure construction index

Broadband infrastructure

Per capita Internet broadband access port, the proportion of gigabit broadband users, fixed broadband network rate, broadband network coverage in rural and remote areas, etc.

Mobile infrastructure

The download rate of 5G network users, the proportion of 5G users, the proportion of the total number of 5G base stations, etc.

Application infrastructure

The proportion of IPv6 active terminals, the proportion of IoT terminals, etc.

The environment for innovation

The number of listed Internet enterprises, the number of incubated enterprises per 10,000 people, etc.

Innovation input

The proportion of R&D expenditure to GDP, the proportion of corporate R&D personnel, the proportion of governmental R&D investment to GDP, etc.

Innovation output

The number of scientific research papers per 10,000 people, the number of national awards for scientific and technological achievement per 10,000 people, the number of invention patents per 10,000 people, etc.

Basic index

The penetration rate of Internet, the total telecom business, the proportion of added value of software and IT service industries to GDP, etc.

Industrial digitalization

The numerical control rate of key processes, the application rate of industrial cloud platforms, the coverage rate of agricultural−production informatization, the proportion of e−commerce consumption in final consumption expenditure, etc.

Digital industrialization

The scale of digital core industries, the scale of e−commerce transactions, the sales of agricultural products via Internet, etc.

The development of public services

The coverage rate of telemedicine, the coverage rate of electronic social security cards, the real−time forecast rate of bus/tram arrival information, etc.

The construction of E−government

The online handling of government services, the WeChat communication index of provincial government services, the number of microblog−authentication accounts on government services per 100,000 people, etc.

Innovation capacity index

Digital economy development index

Digital society development index

(continued)

1.2 Internet Development in Various Provinces, Autonomous Regions …

15

Table 1.1 (continued) The first-level index

The second-level index

Description

Cybersecurity index

The environment for cybersecurity

The number of host IP addresses implanted with trojans or bots, the number of implanted backdoor websites and tampered websites, the proportion of infected hosts in the number of active IP addresses in one region, etc.

The construction of cybersecurity awareness

Cybersecurity search index, the number of participants in a series of Cybersecurity Week Activities, the proportion of the number of cultivated cybersecurity talents, etc.

The development of The number of cybersecurity enterprises, the cybersecurity industry proportion of cybersecurity personnel, the number of cybersecurity industrial parks above the provincial level, etc. Cyberspace governance index

Social collaboration

The number of Internet−related social organizations, the number of authorized size at cyberspace administration departments, the times of participation in international exchanges and cooperation, etc.

Content governance

The number of campaigns in cyberspace, the number of reports from Internet users, etc.

Law−based cyberspace governance

Cyberspace−related strategies, policies, regulations and normative documents, the number of Internet news information licenses, etc.

and municipalities directly under the Central Government, as well as research reports published by relevant ministries and commissions or research institutions.

1.2.1 Comprehensive Ranking of China Internet Development Index in 2022 On the basis of China Internet Development Index System, the Report ranks Internet development indexes of 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. In general, various provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government comprehensively and thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on building China into a strong cyberpower, earnestly act in accordance with the deployment requirements of the CPC Central Committee, give full play to their own advantages, and vigorously expedite the development process of Internet based on regional advantages or local conditions. In Comprehensive Rankings of China Internet Development Index in 2022, top ten

16

1 Overview

provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government in Internet development are Guangdong, Beijing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Shandong, Tianjin, Sichuan, Fujian and Hubei, as shown in “Overview” Fig. 1.1. Guangdong continuously promotes the coordinated development of “dual gigabit” network, actively implements the application and innovation of “IPv6 +”, scientifically deploys data centers and computing resources, and vigorously accelerates the construction of new-type infrastructure development. Internet application and industrial development advance side by side. In 2021, above-designated-size Internet enterprises in Guangdong achieved a year-on-year growth of 9.3% in business revenue, ranking the 2nd in China. The comprehensive strength of Internet enterprises increases year after year. 15 enterprises in Guangdong, including Tencent and NetEase, are shortlisted in “Top 100 Internet Enterprises in China”. Guangdong adheres to the balanced and coordinated development of digital government, relies on market-oriented reform of data factors of production, focuses on provincial governance and government services, comprehensively deepens the construction of “Digital Government 2.0”, and raises the modernization of the governmental governance system and capacity to a new level. Beijing facilitates the construction of new-type technological infrastructure such as AI, blockchain and big data. Beijing enhances the innovation capacity in key technologies, supports basic research of digital industry, makes breakthroughs in core technologies, and urges enterprises, universities and research institutes to improve the supply level of basic software and hardware, core components, key basic materials and production equipment in cutting-edge fields. Beijing accelerates the construction of a benchmark city for global digital economy. Digital technologies empowered the construction of smart venues for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and ensured the

Fig. 1.1 Top ten provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government in China internet development index in 2022

1.2 Internet Development in Various Provinces, Autonomous Regions …

17

operation of the games, demonstrating to the world the phased construction achievements of Beijing as a benchmark city for global digital economy. Beijing continually improves “Internet + public services” and gradually enhances the supporting capacity of digital society, so as to meet the needs of citizens’ daily life. Jiangsu continues to promote the construction of communications network infrastructure. In 2021, the number of 5G-terminal users in Jiangsu reached 34.456 million, with 60,000 newly-built 5G base stations, totaling 131,000. Four cities, i.e. Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou, are listed in the first-group “gigabit cities” in China. Jiangsu constantly strengthens the whole-chain layout of basic research, key technologies and achievement transformation in the field of cyberspace administration, highlights cutting-edge fields (e.g. new-type ubiquitous IoT and next-generation mobile communications) and niche industries (e.g. integrated circuit, 5G and big data), and organizes or implements major scientific and technological achievementtransformation projects. In Jiangsu, there are more than 1000 core enterprises in the AI field, with the scale of AI-related industries exceeding 200 billion yuan. In terms of digital reform platform, Zhejiang fully completes the base, basically clarifies the systematic architecture, and continuously improves the promotion mechanism, with applications and achievements continuing to emerge and tangible results continuing to increase. Zhejiang promotes the construction of a series of applications like government services for citizens, enterprises, security and smart governance, develops and launches 57 major applications and achievements, enhances government’s ability to scientifically grasp the trend of economic and social development, and realizes efficient, integrated, accurate and intelligent government governance. Zhejiang iteratively improves the apps “Zhe Li Ban” and “Zhe Zheng Ding”, and completes the construction of the first provincial “healthy brain” with full coverage and penetration in China, with the settlement rate of individual e-code for medical insurance reaching 87%. Zhejiang deeply implements “No. 1 Project” 2.0 version of digital economy and achieves remarkable results in the construction of the national digital economy innovation and development pilot zone and digital economy system. Shanghai utilizes the critical window period of urban digital transformation, and vigorously stimulates new technologies, business forms and models. Shanghai deploys new-type interconnection facilities in advance, constructs National (Shanghai) New-Type Internet Exchanges Center and launches the trial operation, and realizes the deployment of the first Internet domain-name J-root mirror server. In Shanghai, digital economy accelerates and digital core industry grows rapidly. In 2021, the sales revenue of integrated circuit industry in Shanghai exceeded 260 billion yuan, and the scale of software and information service industry reached 1200 billion yuan. Guided by the exploration of the scientific, optimized and intelligent governance of mega cities, Shanghai improves “one-website handling” and “one-website management”, and builds the first mega-city-operation digital-sign system with “unified database map”. More headaches and peripheral problems for people’s livelihoods are solved one by one with digital transformation, which gradually activates the internal drive of mega-city governance. Shandong seizes new opportunities of digital transformation and energetically promotes the development of digital economy. The scale of digital economy steadily

18

1 Overview

grows, the innovation and integration of digital economy accelerates, and new business forms and models emerge, with a trend of healthy development. In 2021, the total volume of digital economy in Shandong exceeded 3.5 trillion yuan, ranking the 3rd in China. Shandong actively quickens 5G industry development and 5G network construction, deeply fosters network speed-increase and cost-reduction, vigorously supports rural revitalization, and further improves wireless network coverage in remote areas. Shandong highlights the development of cybersecurity industry, builds three cybersecurity industrial parks, and promotes university-enterprise cooperation and achievement transformation in terms of cybersecurity talents. Shandong formulates and issues The Plan for Construction of Shandong as a Digital Powerful Province During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period, planning a new blueprint for the development of cyberspace administration during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Tianjin closely centers on the functional position of “one base and three districts”, focuses on “manufacturing-based urban development”, takes new-generation IT industry as the driving force, makes breakthroughs in IT application and innovation industry, promotes the deep integration of digital technology and real economy, and cultivates and expands intelligent-technology industry. Tianjin accelerates the large-scale promotion of 5G applications in more than ten fields, such as intelligent manufacturing, smart medicine and smart city. Tianjin actively deploys IoV industry and large-scale infrastructure network based on C-V2X technology, and preliminarily constructs an independent, secure and controllable industrial chain represented by “Tianhe-1” and “Tianhe-3” supercomputers, Sugon Computer, Phytium CPU and KylinOS. Sichuan accelerates the construction of core industrial clusters such as the “chip-screen-storage-terminal-software-intelligence-network”. Chengdu Software and Information Service Industry is listed in national advanced manufacturing industrial clusters, and the first inter-provincial national cybersecurity industrial park is settled in Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle. Sichuan continues to deepen the integration of digital economy and manufacturing industry. Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle becomes the second inter-provincial-administrative-region industrial Internet integration development demonstration zone after the Yangtze River Delta. Sichuan is included in the first-group national industrial data security management and corporate data management capability maturity model (DCMM) pilot zones. Relying on modern IT means such as 5G, big data and cloud computing, Sichuan advances urban optimized management and intelligent services. Online service hall of “Sichuan e Human Resources and Social Security” serves people 1.664 billion times every year. “Cultural Tianfu” cloud platform realizes diversified intelligent services for public libraries and museums. Fujian promotes the coordinated development of “dual gigabit” network, quickens the construction of industrial Internet infrastructure, and deploys the construction of data centers and supercomputing centers in an all-round way. Fujian vigorously develops cloudified platforms for enterprises, with the number of enterprises on cloudified platforms exceeding 47,000. Fujian focuses on new emerging industries like platform economy, and endeavors to cultivate or introduce a number of major Internet platforms. Fujian optimizes and upgrades the provincial online service hall

1.2 Internet Development in Various Provinces, Autonomous Regions …

19

and “Min Zheng Tong” app, and promotes the elderly-friendly and barrier-free transformation and upgrading of government websites. Fujian achieves remarkable results in the construction of open government data platforms, the scale of data sharing and supporting application, and basically realizes “directory access, data access, interface access and process access” on provincial and municipal platforms. Hubei accelerates the deployment and application of IPv6, blockchain and other technologies in key fields, and deeply launches national digital village pilot construction. Hubei releases The Opinions on the Implementation of Strengthening the Construction of Internet Civilization, implements “Good Internet Users in China Project”, strengthens Internet literacy education, and pools efforts to build a clean cyberspace. Hubei deeply carries out a series of special actions, including “campaign to purify the online environment” and “against pornography and illegal publications”, to rectify such prominent problems as livestreaming malpractice, faking viewership and Internet addiction.

1.2.2 The Rankings of the Second-Level Evaluation Indexes In China Internet Development Index System in 2022, “Overview” Table 1.2 shows top ten provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government in six aspects, i.e. information infrastructure construction, innovation capacity, digital economy development, digital society development, cybersecurity and cyberspace governance. 1. The Ranking of Infrastructure Construction Index Various regions accelerate the deployment of network infrastructure construction, continuously promote the large-scale deployment and application of IPv6, and strengthen the deep coverage of fixed broadband network and 5G network. Among them, in infrastructure construction index, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Shanghai, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Fujian and Hainan rank top ten in China. In particular, Jiangsu builds eight special channels for international Internet data and ranks the 1st in China in the number. Four cities, i.e. Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou, are listed in the first-group “gigabit cities” in China, ranking the 1st in China in the number. By 2021, Guangdong had built 171,000 5G base stations, ranking the 1st in China. The number of 5G users reached 40.96 million, accounting for 26.9% of the total number of mobile broadband users, ranking the 1st in China in the scale. Zhejiang continues to improve digital infrastructure. By 2021, Zhejiang completed the construction of 113,600 5G base stations and put them into operation, ranking the 3rd in China in the number. Zhejiang totally built more than 400 BDS ground-based enhancement stations, continuously enhanced satellite space–time information services, and totally built 193 data centers of various types, including 20 large and above data centers. Beijing expedites the construction of a super-large-scale AI model-training platform, and jointly builds “AI chip ecology laboratory” with several enterprises and research teams, so as to

20

1 Overview

Table 1.2 Top ten provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government in the second-level evaluation indexes in 2022 Ranking Infrastructure Innovation construction capacity index index

Digital economy development index

Digital Cybersecurity Cyberspace society index governance development index index

1

Jiangsu

Beijing

Guangdong

Shanghai

Guangdong

Hebei

2

Guangdong

Shanghai

Shanghai

Zhejiang

Zhejiang

Shandong

Beijing

Jiangsu

Beijing Shanghai

3

Zhejiang

Guangdong Jiangsu

4

Beijing

Jiangsu

Beijing

Guangdong

Beijing

5

Tianjin

Zhejiang

Zhejiang

Jiangsu

Tianjin

Jiangsu

Sichuan

Shandong

Zhejiang Guangdong

6

Shandong

Tianjin

Shandong

7

Shanghai

Shaanxi

Anhui

Shandong

Fujian

8

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Sichuan

Sichuan

Fujian

Shaanxi

Chongqing

9

Fujian

Anhui

Hebei

Jiangxi

Henan

Hubei

Tianjin

Jiangxi

Shaanxi

10

Hainan

Hubei

Henan

accelerate the ecological development and application of domestic AI chips. Beijing builds the “ChainMaker · Collaborative Network” for collaborative development, and accelerates the adoption of blockchain, extending its use from key industries and core fields to various sectors. 2. The Ranking of Innovation Capacity Index Various regions continuously increase investment in the R&D of innovative technologies, vigorously implement innovation-driven development strategies, and actively make new progress in new-generation IT innovation. Among them, in innovation capacity index, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Tianjin, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Anhui and Hubei rank top ten in China. In particular, Beijing actively creates a new ecosystem for AI industry, with almost 50% high-level scholars in the AI field in China and a total of over 40,000 talents in core industries. In 109 listed AI enterprises nationwide, Beijing owns 40. In Beijing, there are 37 AI unicorn enterprises, accounting for 39% of the total in China, ranking the 1st. Shanghai makes breakthroughs in AI technology in a process of long-term accumulation, centers on key core technologies in the field of smart chip, and takes international giants a benchmark. Shanghai owns the largest number of smart-chip innovation enterprises in China, with 18 AI chips in the process of trial production (tape-out) and mass production. Jiangsu Hengtong Marine Optical Network System Co., Ltd. establishes the first SDM-based 16-fiber-pair deep-sea communications system, and proposes a smart marine information physical integration network that features the trinity of

1.2 Internet Development in Various Provinces, Autonomous Regions …

21

“monitoring-communications-energy”, which probably fills the international technological gap. Zhejiang accelerates the advancement of network information technology and makes breakthroughs in integrated circuit industry. A number of achievements emerge, such as the XuanTie Processor of T-Head, a semiconductor company of Alibaba, the memory-computing integrated AI chip of Alibaba DAMO Academy, and SoC “Intelligent Cockpit Chip” of Geely Auto. 3. The Ranking of Digital Economy Development Index Various regions attach great importance to the development of digital economy, formulate and improve policy systems for the development of digital economy, accelerate digital industrialization and industrial digitalization, and achieve remarkable results in the informatization of manufacturing industry. Among them, in digital economy development index, Guangdong, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Beijing, Zhejiang, Shandong, Anhui, Sichuan, Hebei and Henan rank top ten in China. In particular, Shanghai promotes a new model of manufacturing, quickens “IndustryEmpowered Shanghai” action, accelerates the innovation-driven development of industrial Internet, enhances the digital competitiveness of “Made in Shanghai” brand, and builds 40 smart factories and 26 industrial-level industrial Internet benchmarking platforms. Jiangsu significantly improves the development level of the core industries of digital economy and accelerates the innovation momentum of digital industry, with the revenue of software and information service industry reaching 1.2 trillion yuan. With Wuxi approved as a famous characteristic software city in China, Jiangsu ranks the 1st in China in the number of famous software cities and rapidly develops emerging digital industries like “cloud-digitalization-AI-network-chain”. In recent three years, in Beijing, the number of start-ups in the core industries of digital economy increased by more than 10,000 annually, and the number of abovedesignated-size core enterprises reached 8342, accounting for c. 1/5 of the total number of above-designated-size enterprises, including five enterprises at the level of 100 billion yuan and 58 enterprises at the level of ten billion yuan. Beijing ranks the 1st in China in the number of industrial Internet platforms, access resources and national intelligent manufacturing system solution provider. Zhejiang promotes digital industrialization and industrial digitalization. In 2021, in Zhejiang, the total added value of core industries of digital economy reached 834.827 billion yuan, and the total import and export volume of digital trade reached around 527.9 billion yuan, with an increase of 20% for three consecutive years. Simultaneously, the accumulated online retail sales reached 2523.03 billion yuan. 4. The Ranking of Digital Society Development Index Various regions place a high premium on the development of digital society, deeply integrate Internet with public services and government services, accelerate the construction of smart cities and digital villages, meet the needs of public life, and achieve remarkable results in the development of digital society. Among them, in digital society development index, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Beijing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Shandong, Fujian, Jiangxi and Tianjin rank top ten in China.

22

1 Overview

In particular, Shanghai practices the idea of “people’s city”, builds a new picture of digital life shared by everyone, achieves significant results in the construction of cases like “serving the elderly” and transportation, and launches “smart travel as a service”. Parking software apps in Shanghai cover urban road parking lots, which promotes the elderly-friendly transformation of 115 public-service websites and 43 mobile phone apps in the city and bridges the digital gap. Zhejiang steps up effort to promote the construction of the “Internet + healthcare” demonstration province, and completes the construction of the first provincial “healthy brain” with full coverage and penetration in China, with the settlement rate of individual e-code for medical insurance reaching 87%. In the field of social security, on “Zhe Li Jiu Ye”, a digital application platform, the number of daily active users reaches 35,000 averagely. “Ren Cai Ma” is applied in the whole province, and “Ji Neng Zhe Jiang” platform is officially launched. Zhejiang iteratively upgrades and builds “Zhe Li Jiu” version 3.0 to achieve “related affairs handling” and “one-stop” service of social assistance. Beijing constantly improves “Internet + public services”, builds “online classes”, and promotes the pilot of “double teachers class” via which famous teachers give lessons together. Beijing strengthens the construction of digital service platforms, forms an integrated service pattern featuring “online handling, app handling, self-service handling, intelligent handling and inter-provincial handling”, and significantly improves the service capacity and efficiency for citizens and enterprises. 5. The Ranking of Cybersecurity Index Various regions attach great importance to cybersecurity, actively improve the capability of cybersecurity protection, continuously optimize cybersecurity emergency systems, launch various forms of cybersecurity publicity activities, and vigorously accelerate the development of cybersecurity industry. Among them, in cybersecurity index, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Fujian, Shaanxi, Henan and Jiangxi rank top ten in China. In particular, there are more than 25,000 cybersecurity enterprises in Guangdong (by 2021). Guangdong ranks the top in China in the number of universities with the major of cybersecurity. Zhejiang deeply practices “Fengqiao Experience” in cybersecurity and further optimizes cybersecurity ecological environment. Zhejiang continually improves the protection level of critical infrastructure and successively promotes five campaigns (i.e. “Zhi Wang”, “Hu Wang”, “Qing Yuan”, “Jing Wang” and “Sao Lei”). Zhejiang completes the technological evaluation of 3297 types of critical information infrastructure and information systems above the third level, with overall evaluation and rectification rate reaching 96.4%. Relevant departments of Jiangsu guide 13 prefecture-level cities to start the special action of “Cybersecurity 2021” for more than two months. By dint of the resources of Jiangsu Cyberspace Security (Wuxi) Training Base, Jiangsu organizes training courses for cybersecurity officers and advanced training courses for cybersecurity, which continuously implement cybersecurity talent training. Beijing actively builds stringent lines of defense across society, establishes cybersecurity emergency headquarters, arranges weekly 24-h emergency-on-duty, and forms relatively complete working mechanism for daily protection and security of major events.

1.3 Trends of China Internet Development

23

Beijing meticulously plans a series of cybersecurity brand activities and organizes around 1000 cybersecurity-themed activities, which cover more than ten million people via online and offline publicity. 6. The Ranking of Cyberspace Governance Index Various regions attach great importance to cyberspace governance, actively introduce relevant cyberspace governance regulations, industrial policies and normative documents, strengthen the construction of governance-system platforms, continuously launch special actions in cyberspace, and create clear cyberspace. Among them, in cyberspace governance index, Hebei, Shandong, Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Chongqing, Hubei and Shaanxi Province rank top ten in China. In particular, Hebei deeply promotes the construction of a comprehensive cyberspace governance system, launches “Internet clean-up campaign 2021 in Hebei” Cyberspace Ecological Governance, innovates the graded and classified management of user public accounts, achieves the biggest synergy of the cyber society coordinatedgovernance volunteer-service team, and mobilizes all sectors of society to participate in cyberspace ecological governance. Shandong always highlights the construction of a comprehensive cyberspace governance system with a holistic approach, focuses on the construction of six major systems, explores the integration of “cyberspace administration and grid-based governance” and “online + offline” seamless connection of grass-roots comprehensive cyberspace governance, accumulates relevant experience, and basically builds a comprehensive cyberspace governance system. Chongqing launches “Internet clean-up campaign”. To address prominent problems such as “black industries like camera peeping”, “undesirable fan culture” and “Internet environment for the minors”, Chongqing carries out special actions more than 30 times to purify the online environment, totally investigates and deletes more than 26,000 pieces of illegal and harmful information, removes more than 640 illegal apps, and handles more than 3500 accounts.

1.3 Trends of China Internet Development In the future, we should take into consideration the overall goal of national rejuvenation in the context of global changes on a scale unseen in a century, as well as domestic and international situations and development and security. We should give full play to the advantages of data resources, tap the potential of data as a factor of production, promote the deep integration of digital technology and real economy, empower the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, and continue to make digital economy bigger and stronger. We should fully develop information-based services for the benefits of people, improve the inclusive level of digital public services, enhance the effectiveness of the construction of digital government, and continually raise people’s sense of gain, happiness and security. We should give full play to the driving role of digital technology, strengthen the development of new cultural forms, deeply promote the construction of Internet civilization, and create clear cyberspace.

24

1 Overview

We should bolster the construction of cybersecurity guarantee capacity, expand the scale of cybersecurity industry, enhance the cultivation of cybersecurity talents, foster healthy cybersecurity ecology, and protect the development of cyberspace administration. We should give full play to China’s role in international cyberspace governance and work with international community to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace. We should continuously promote high-quality development of cyberspace administration in an all-round way and in various fields, and focus on solidifying the foundation, leveraging our strengths and tackling areas of weaknesses, so as to contribute the strength of cyberspace administration to building a modern socialist country in all respects.

1.3.1 With the Integrated Development of Information Infrastructure, Intelligent Upgrading Accelerates Spurred by national policies, the construction of information infrastructure in China develops fast. In particular, in the comprehensive development of computing power, new technology and other infrastructure, China ranks top in the world in the scale and level of construction. The rapid development of digital economy in China also provides development space and opportunities for the development of information infrastructure. Globally, however, economic globalization encounters headwinds, and unilateralism and hegemonism resurface, which undermine global supply chains and industrial chains. Noticeably, China remains weak in the integrated and coordinated development of information infrastructure and the cultivation of application market. How to properly deal with the hidden dangers of supply chain security and the challenges of cybersecurity, and how to give full play to the multiplier effect of information infrastructure are urgent problems to be solved. In the future, China will accelerate the construction of high-speed, ubiquitous, intelligent and comprehensive digital information infrastructure that integrates space and ground, and the cloud and the Internet. It should also be green, low-carbon, secure and controllable. China should expand the coverage of communication network, promote the development of 5G innovation and application, quicken the upgrading and transformation of broadband network, continuously promote the large-scale deployment and innovation and application of IPv6, strengthen the research deployment of 6G network technology, accelerate the deployment of satellite communication network, and boost the construction of satellite Internet. China should develop a green, energy-saving and high-efficiency computing system and promote the coordinated and integrated development of cloud and edge. China should uphold technological integration, give play to the driving role in the integration of IoT, industrial Internet, IoV and other technologies, and improve their coverage. China should accelerate the intelligent transformation of traditional infrastructure such as transportation, energy and water conservancy, establish perception and monitoring systems, use AI technology to predict social needs, and improve social governance.

1.3 Trends of China Internet Development

25

1.3.2 Digital Technology Boosts Real Economy and Data Development and Utilization Continue to Improve The scale of digital economy in China expands rapidly, yet the problem of imbalanced, inadequate and non-standardized development remains prominent. The service industry takes the lead in digital transformation, with a gap between digital transformation of industry and agriculture. The cluster effect of digital-economy development becomes remarkable. Simultaneously, the imbalance of regional development proves prominent. As a new type of production factor, data serves as the basis of digitalization, networking and intelligence. China possesses the advantages of data scale and data application. However, the ownership of data collection and use remain unclear, the amount of open, shared and used data needs to be increased, and the advantages of data resources have not been fully utilized. China needs to explore and expand the application of digital technology, widen the use cases and fields of digital technology, and effectively address problems in core technologies and key fields. Presently, the supply of high-level talents in the field of digital economy remains insufficient, and the trained talents cannot meet the needs of development. In the future, with regard to the development of digital economy, China will expand the scale of industrial Internet, deeply promote the integration of digital technology with real economy, and strengthen the construction of global industrial chain and ecological chain of “Made in China”, by taking consumer Internet as a main growth point. Data factor market in China will enter the stage of rapid development with group breakthroughs. China will promote data property rights, data circulation transaction, data profit distribution and data security governance in an all-round way, accelerate the construction of basic systems of data property rights, circulation and transaction, and build a standardized data transaction market, so as to advance efficient data circulation and use and empower real economy. China will quicken the digital and green collaborative transformation and development, promote the green and low-carbon development of digital industry, accelerate the digital-technology-empowered green transformation, give play to the driving role of green transformation on digital industry, establish a monitoring system, and organize the “dual collaboration” pilot, so that digital technology plays an important role in empowering green transformation and helping achieve “Emission Peak” and “Carbon Neutrality”. China will strengthen the cultivation of versatile talents in digital economy, focus on tackling key core technologies, and boost digital economy in a high-quality and healthy manner.

26

1 Overview

1.3.3 Digital Public Services Become More Inclusive and Equal and Digital Government Develops in an Optimized Way With the increasing popularity of Internet and the in-depth promotion of information infrastructure, Internet users get access to Internet more frequently, and the structure and behaviors or habits of Internet users continue to change, which puts forward more diverse demands for the development of digital society and digital government. The digital gap between various groups turns from “access gap” to “cognitive gap”, which affects the development of digital society and the governance effectiveness of digital government to a certain extent. In the future, China will develop inclusive digital society, focus on people’s needs, coordinate technological application and data security, make full use of new digital technologies, and strengthen the supply–demand connection in employment, elderly care, housekeeping and other areas of people’s livelihood. China will accelerate the development of digital health services, accurately connect and meet the needs of the masses for medical and health services, and develop new forms of remote, customized, and intelligent digital health services. China will quicken the digital construction of cultural resources, provide convenient and shared public digital cultural services for the public, create a new landscape of digital culture, and promote the prosperity of digital culture in an all-round way. China will continuously optimize the function of a national integrated government service platform, improve the ability to provide proactive, accurate, collaborative and smart services, and constantly meet the needs of enterprises and the masses for multi-level and diversified services. China will promote the turn of social-governance model from one-way management to two-way interaction, from offline integration to online-offline integration. China will advance the construction of new-type smart cities and digital villages in a coordinated way, gradually narrow urban–rural digital divide, innovate the construction, application, operation and other models of smart cities, strengthen the emergency linkage of various departments in the construction of smart cities, promote informationbased services for the benefits of people and targeted governance, and make cities more intelligent and humanized. Based on the digital village pilot project, China will comprehensively promote the construction of digital villages, improve informationbased service-supply mechanism in rural areas, raise information-based services for the benefits of rural residents, and continuously accelerate the formation of digital urban–rural integrated development pattern of “urban areas supporting rural development, and upholding joint contribution and shared benefits”. China will bridge the digital gap between various groups, improve digital social-service capacity for special groups, provide characteristic and customized digital public products, and continually enhance people’s sense of gain, happiness and security.

1.3 Trends of China Internet Development

27

1.3.4 The Construction of New Pattern of Mainstream Public Opinion Accelerates, with the Innovation-Driven Development of New Forms of Internet Content China possesses abundant resources of Internet content. The demands of Internet users for Internet content become increasingly diversified, complex and individualized, which puts forward new requirements for mainstream media. In some cases, Internet content is jumbled, and harmful information is spread on the Internet, which produce risks in misleading public opinion and affecting Internet users’ values. The proportion of young Internet users increases. The online behaviors and ideological dynamics of young people are deeply affected by Internet content. Mainstream media need to improve a discourse system that can effectively fit in with young people. In the future, China continues to build a multi-level and diversified modern communication system, promote the construction of new-type mainstream media, create an Internet communication discourse system that integrates Chinese style with global vision, seize development opportunities from informatization, innovate the communication content and product form, enhance overseas communication of Chinese stories, and highlight Chinese characteristics, style and strength. China continuously advances the construction of Internet civilization. With various forms, Internet content is pushed in a targeted and accurate way, and positive energy on the Internet is widely spread. Mainstream media continually adhere to the correct value orientation, carry forward advanced socialist culture, guide We Media and Internet users to sustainably produce and create high-quality information content, and optimize the production and supply of information content. Relevant departments will enhance the effectiveness of comprehensive cyberspace governance, accurately grasp the functional characteristics of different products, focus on major tasks in different fields, platforms and links, clarify working standards, and promote standardized management and effective performance of responsibilities of website platforms. Mainstream media will adapt to new trends, center on young Internet users, innovate content and discourse systems, integrate into the “youth group” and “new-generation circle”, guide the discourse of the youngsters, better cultivate young people’s patriotic feelings, moral sentiments and Internet literacy, and gather strong spiritual strength. New technologies, applications and use cases will drive the innovation and development of Internet content industry. Internet content diversifies, and digital technology propels the innovation and development of communication industry. Livestreaming continues to innovate and develop, and its content develops from entertainment and simple goods sales into knowledge-based goods sales. With more diverse scenes for immersive experience, online livestreaming, immersive video, digital collection, digital culture and tourism and other business forms are extensively developed and popularized. A new business form of digital services for citizen artists that combines online and offline platforms and supply and self-creation becomes popular.

28

1 Overview

1.3.5 The Security Risks of New Technologies and Applications Prove Prominent and the Means of Data Security Protection Become Diversified New technologies and applications, such as AI, blockchain, quantum computing, metaverse, 5G/6G, satellite Internet, and ICV, pose new security risks and challenges, and spur innovation in the ideas and approaches of cybersecurity protection. Cyber hegemonism means a threat to world peace and development. The threats and risks to cybersecurity become increasingly prominent. Large-scale targeted cyberattacks occur frequently. Personal information protection and data security arouse widespread attention. Digitalization upgrades the idea of security, cybersecurity extends to digital security, and the realization of full lifecycle security of data becomes the top priority. In the future, China continues to improve the top-level design of cybersecurity, improve cybersecurity-related systems and mechanisms, laws and regulations and strategic standards, and enhance cybersecurity guarantee systems and capacity. China will strengthen the security-guarantee system and capacity-building of critical information infrastructure, and earnestly implement The Regulations on the Security Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure and The Measures for Cybersecurity Review. New technologies and means such as privacy computing, active immune trusted computing and cybersecurity insurance provide new ways to solidify the capacity of cybersecurity-risk governance. China will improve the governance system of data security and personal information protection, standardize the cross-border flow of data, and gradually form a coordinated governance model of governments, enterprises and society, so as to enhance the public awareness of information and data protection. China will promote the research and development of intelligent detection means and tools for software security, build and improve the standard system related to software supply chain security, enhance the detection and response capabilities of security protection and security incidents in software supply chain, and gradually establish a secure and trusted ecosystem of software supply chain. China will strengthen the innovation in key technologies for cybersecurity, enhance the leading role of cybersecurity industrial ecology, improve industrial integration, cultivate pilot enterprises, optimize the mechanism of cybersecurity talent training, and constantly promote the cooperation between universities and industrial enterprises in talent cultivation and collaborative innovation, so as to gradually forge a good ecosystem for talent training, technological innovation and industrial development.

1.3 Trends of China Internet Development

29

1.3.6 The Channels of International Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace Widen and China’s Contribution Continues to Increase Scientific and technological competition and digital game become an important feature of international relations in the digital era. Various countries vie for global dominance in the digital field by shaping new rules and systems in Internet technological standards, digital economy and cybersecurity. China’s digital economy grows by leaps and bounds. Therefore, several Western countries curb China in the development of 5G, semiconductor, submarine optical cable and other fields. Regional alliances impede the progress of cyberspace globalization. The trend of fragmentation and division in global digital governance continues. Various countries have not established universal international rules and coordinated governance systems. The game between major countries intensifies. Globally, peace deficit, security deficit, trust deficit and governance deficit keep growing. China faces both challenges and opportunities in participation in international cyberspace governance. In the future, China continues to strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in cyberspace with other countries and regions in the world, and promote building a community with a shared future in cyberspace. China takes the lead in the development level of digital economy in the world and forges a solid foundation in the formulation of rules on digital economy. China’s propositions, such as Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, become global consensuses. China continues to share wisdom and strength in global cooperation and development of digital economy, and provide reference and experience for the development of digital economy in other countries. China will promote the process of formulating international rules in cyberspace with the United Nations as the main channel, give full play to the role of international organizations like World Internet Conference, boost mutual consultation and shared benefits via dialogue and communication and practical cooperation, and contribute wisdom and strength to global Internet development and governance. Meanwhile, China will successfully host Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Boao Forum for Asia and other diplomatic events at home, so that the world can better understand China and China can better serve the world. China will give full play to the role of various parties such as governments, international organizations, social groups, technological communities and think tanks, and actively participate in the formulation of international rules and standards in the fields of cybersecurity, digital economy and Internet content. China continues to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the United States, the European Union, Russia, ASEAN and other countries and regions, and join Digital Economy Partnership Agreement and other regional agreements as soon as possible.

Chapter 2

The Construction of Information Infrastructure

2.1 Outline China attaches great importance to the construction of information infrastructure. In the 14th Five-Year Plan, it is clearly proposed to “build a high-speed, ubiquitous information infrastructure that integrates space and ground and features interconnection, security and efficiency, and enhance data perception, transmission, storage and computing capabilities”. Presently, China has built the largest 5G network in the world and become the first country in the world to construct SA (standalone) modelbased 5G network. As the coverage of broadband network keeps rising, China builds the largest optical network in the world and upgrades gigabit optical network. The large-scale deployment of IPv6 advances in an all-round way, and the IPv6 support rate of major websites and mobile Internet apps exceeds 80%. The construction of space-ground integrated network continuously progresses, and the pace of commercialization accelerates. China ranks the 2nd in the world in overall scale of computing power. In China, the overall layout of the national integrated big data center system is completed, and “Channeling Computing Resources from the East to the West” Project is fully launched. Cloud computing and edge computing develop rapidly, and cloud-edge integration construction matures, with its application scope continuing to expand. IoT, industrial Internet and IoV develop steadily, whose industrial scale keeps growing. Their integration with production and life quickens and their use cases diversify.

2.2 The Construction of Network Infrastructure is Continuously Consolidated In recent years, in the development of 5G, China has upheld overall planning, promoted joint construction and sharing and raised network coverage. 5G industrial ecology expands stably, and 5G integrates into various industries. Fixed broadband © Publishing House of Electronics Industry 2024 China Internet Development Report 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5130-7_2

31

32

2 The Construction of Information Infrastructure

network extends to rural areas in a sustainable way. Major cities actively upgrade gigabit optical fiber network, and the role of 5G integration and empowerment intensifies. With remarkable achievements made in large-scale deployment of IPv6, the supporting capability of IPv6 improves comprehensively. The construction of spaceground integrated network speeds up, satellite internet develops in a coordinated way, the deployment of remote sensing satellite matures, and BDS ecology enlarges.

2.2.1 China Leads the World in the Construction of 5G Network 1. The Largest Scale in the Construction of 5G Network in the World China is the first country in the world to build SA model-based 5G network. By June 2022, China has built the largest 5G network in the world, with a total of 1.854 million 5G base stations, contributing more than 16% to the total mobile base stations and more than 60% to the total 5G base stations in the world. In 5G coverage rate, China also holds a safe lead in the world. The density of 5G base stations reaches 10.7 per 10,000 people. 5G network covers all prefecture-level cities and county central areas as well as more than 90% of towns, and develops in rural areas with qualifications and needs. With the help of wide coverage of 5G network, the number of 5G users in China increases yearly. The number of users logging into 5G network leaps to 450 million, accounting for more than 70% of the number of global 5G users (logged in).1 In June 2019, 5G license was issued. Basic telecom operators in China follow the principle of “overall planning and moderate advance” and promote joint construction and sharing of 5G network, making the construction of 5G network faster and more efficient. In the past three years, China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom invested 317.1 billion yuan, 86.5 billion yuan and 73.6 billion yuan in 5G respectively, with a total investment of 477.2 billion yuan. According to the data released by these three major operators in June 2021, their number of 5G package users exceeded 920 million. In particular, totally, China Mobile had more than 960 million users and more than 510 million 5G package users, with a 5G penetration rate of c. 53%. China Telecom had more than 380 million users and more than 230 million 5G package users, with a 5G penetration rate of more than 60%. China Unicom had more than 800 million users and more than 180 million 5G package users. Additionally, in June 2022, China Broadcast Network announced the official launch of 5G services and became the fourth largest communication operator in China. China Broadcast Network makes breakthroughs in the integration of national cable television network and the construction of 5G network, and a new pattern of “cable + 5G” integrated development begins to take shape.

1

Data Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

2.2 The Construction of Network Infrastructure is Continuously Consolidated

33

In China, 5G network operates stably, and the access rate of 5G network proves significantly higher than that of 4G network. According to statistics, the average download access rate and upload access rate of national 5G network reach 334.98 Mb/ s and 70.21 Mb/s respectively. In the construction of 5G in various provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government), Shanghai is at the forefront in average download access rate of 5G network, followed by Chongqing, Yunnan, Liaoning and Fujian.2 2. The Innovation in Standard Patents and Terminal Products Remains Active China continually strengthens innovation and research in the 5G field, deploys 5G standard patents, and makes outstanding contributions to global 5G development. According to the report published by Intellectual Property Development and Research Center of China National Intellectual Property Administration, there are now more than 210,000 5G standard essential patents declared globally, involving 47,000 patent families. Notably, China has declared 18,000 patent families, accounting for 40% of the world, ranking the 1st. The target countries and regions with the largest distribution of 5G standard essential patents are the United States (46,000), China (39,000) and Europe (31,000). In China, as the coverage of 5G network expands, 5G terminal products are constantly innovated, new mobile phone products are continuously launched, and new terminals like industrial gateways, vehicle-mounted terminals and smart wearable devices are continually introduced. By the end of December 2021, in China, a total of 671 5G terminals obtained network access licenses, including 491 5G mobile phones, 161 wireless data terminals and 19 vehicle-mounted wireless terminals. The supply of 5G terminal market further diversified. The number of 5G mobile terminals connected reached 518 million, with a user penetration rate of more than 28.7%, accounting for more than 80% of the world. With continuous popularity of 5G network, 5G mobile phones are widely recognized by consumers, which effectively boosts the development of 5G mobile phone industry. By December 2021, in China, the shipment of 5G mobile phones achieved 266 million, up by 63.5% year on year, accounting for 75.9% of mobile phone shipment in the corresponding period. Besides, the price of 5G mobile phones in China drops to less than 1000 yuan. This quickly popularizes 5G services.3 3. The Use Cases of 5G Innovation and Integration Keep Enlarging Owing to the rapid development of 5G network, in China, 5G applications and services are continuously upgraded, and use cases are continually augmented. 5G application covers many fields in the primary, secondary and tertiary industries, empowers industry, medical care, education, transportation and other fields, and forms numerous typical use cases with commercial value. In total, 40 of 97 major 2

Data Source: National Mobile Network Quality Monitoring Report (Issue 1) published by China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). 3 Data Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

34

2 The Construction of Information Infrastructure

categories of national economy are covered, and more than 20,000 5G use cases are accumulated. By the end of October 2021, China had built more than 2300 5G industrial virtual private networks in key areas, such as industrial parks, ports and hospitals. The use cases in vertical industries like industrial manufacturing, mining and port quickly turn to reality and expand from original auxiliary business (e.g. production) to core business (e.g. equipment control and quality control). New business models and forms like “5G + autonomous driving” and “5G + smart grid” successively emerge. 5G telemedicine, 5G intelligent medical robot and other applications turn from experiment to practice. In the field of consumption, basic telecom operators launch a series of new products such as 5G video RBT, UHD video, cloud game, etc. Technological combination like “5G + big data + AI + AR/VR” spawns new growth points in consumer segments (e.g. game, entertainment and residential services), and drives the development of application industry. Applications such as “5G + 4 K livestreaming”, teleworking and remote teaching play an important role in the COVID-19 pandemic and the resumption of work and production of enterprises. Besides, relevant governmental departments actively promote 5G industrial application and innovation. Ministry of Industry and Information Technology hosts National “Zhan Fang Cup” 5G Application Competition for five consecutive years, collects more than 20,000 5G industrial use cases, and creates benchmark or demonstration for more than ten fields like mining, medical, industrial and educational fields. Simultaneously, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in collaboration with National Health Commission and Ministry of Education, carries out the pilot of “5G + healthcare”, “5G + smart education” and other applications, selects pilot projects, cultivates application benchmarks, and promotes the high-quality development of 5G-empowered industries.

2.2.2 Optical Broadband is Continuously Accelerated and Upgraded 1. The Total Length of National Optical Cable Line Continues to Extend China continuously reinforces the layout of optical cable network and strengthens the guarantee and support of service quality for domestic users. By June 2022, the total length of national optical cable lines reached 57.91 million kilometers, with a net increase of 3.03 million kilometers over the end of 2021. Particularly, access network optical cable, local network relay optical cable and long-distance optical cable accounted for 62.6%, 35.5% and 1.9% respectively. Presently, the number of national Internet backbone direct connection nodes in China reaches 19, and network delay and package loss rate decreases significantly. By the end of 2021, China had built 34 cross-border land cables and several international submarine cables.4 The 4

Data Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

2.2 The Construction of Network Infrastructure is Continuously Consolidated

35

continuous deployment of optical cables effectively enhances the bearing capacity of China’s fixed broadband network and provides robust support for the advancement of information technology. 2. The Scale of Optical Broadband Users Increases Steadily China remains in the van in the construction of broadband network infrastructure in the world. The coverage of broadband network in urban and rural areas continues to rise, and the number of broadband network access users continues to expand. By June 2022, the total number of fixed Internet broadband access users of China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom reached 563 million, with a net increase of 27.05 million over the end of 2021. Specifically, the number of fixed Internet broadband access users with access rate of 1000 Mb/s or above reached 61.11 million, with a net increase of 26.56 million over the end of 2021. The number of fixed broadband users with access rate of 100 Mb/s or above reached 527 million, accounting for 93.7% of the total number of users.5 3. The Construction of Gigabit Broadband Optical Network Speeds up China highlights the construction of broadband network, continuously enhances the upgrading and transformation of optical network, and builds the largest optical network in the world. By June 2022, in China, the number of Internet broadband access ports reached 1.03 billion. To be specific, the number of FTTH/O ports reached 985 million, accounting for 95.2%. Besides, the number of 10-Gb passive optical network (PON) ports with gigabit-broadband-optical-network service capacity reached 11.03 million, with a net increase of 3.18 million over the end of 2021.6 Gigabit optical network possesses the capacity to cover more than 400 million households. Additionally, administrative villages in China achieve 100% broadband access, and the average speed of rural optical fiber network users exceeds 100 Mb/ s, basically realizing the “same network and same speed” between rural and urban areas. In China, broadband network moves towards the era of gigabit broadband optical network. More cities start to deploy gigabit broadband optical network, and the coverage rate of gigabit broadband optical network continues to rise. By the end of May 2022, in China, gigabit broadband optical network had the capacity to cover more than 380 million households, and the scale of gigabit broadband optical network users reached 55.911 million. More than 300 cities nationwide had launched the construction of gigabit broadband optical fiber network, and 29 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, had become the first-batch “gigabit cities” in China.7 4. Optical Broadband Plays a More Prominent Role in Integration and Empowerment 5

Data Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Data Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. 7 Data Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. 6

36

2 The Construction of Information Infrastructure

The popularity of gigabit broadband optical network improves the experience of broadband network of the public and governmental and corporate customers. Besides, technological advantages, e.g. ultra-high bandwidth, full-fiber interconnection and high stability, further trigger business innovation and breed more new use cases and models. In the construction of digital village, relevant parties rely on gigabit broadband optical network to build cloud monitoring platforms, improve the capability of rural intelligent security administration, and extend “Snow Bright Project” to the grass-roots level. In community management, gigabit broadband optical network is integrated with technological means like IoT, big data and AI, which empowers the construction of “smart property management”, enlarges the application of cloud broadcast and the snapshot of vehicle illegal parking, and meets management needs of accident prevention and control, pedestrian management and the warning of vehicle illegal parking. In household application, gigabit broadband optical network spurs the popularization and development of video entertainment, online education, online healthcare, teleworking and smart home. In corporate application, gigabit broadband optical network provides support for high-quality corporate private network, corporate cloudification service and all-fiber industrial park, and promotes the digital transformation of national pillar industries such as transportation, electricity, oil and gas and finance. In industrial application, gigabit broadband optical network enhances the capacity of industrial Internet, realizes stable, green and energy-conservation network with high bandwidth, anti-electromagnetic interference and other performances, unclogs information channels in various chains, and fosters the digital transformation of industrial production.

2.2.3 The Large-Scale Deployment of IPv6 Continues to Advance 1. Remarkable Achievements Are Made in the Large-Scale Deployment of IPv6 China makes continuous progress in the large-scale deployment and application of IPv6. By December 2021, China had applied for 63,052 (/32) IPv6 address resources, ranking the 1st in the world.8 By the end of May 2022, the number of IPv6 active users had reached 693 million, accounting for 67.1% of the total number of Internet users nationwide. The IPv6 support rate of major websites and Internet applications continued to increase, and the IPv6 traffic of mobile communication network accounted for more than 40%.9 Moreover, China continuously strengthens top-level design and solidly promotes the in-depth development of IPv6 large-scale deployment and application. In March 2022, 12 departments, including Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission jointly organized and implemented the pilot of IPv6 technological innovation 8 9

Data Source: China Internet Network Information Center. Data Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

2.2 The Construction of Network Infrastructure is Continuously Consolidated

37

and integrated application, and determined 22 comprehensive pilot cities and 96 pilot projects, which aimed to explore the full-chain, full-business and full-scene deployment, innovation and application of IPv6 and improve the large-scale deployment and application level of IPv6. 2. The Support Capability of IPv6 Is Comprehensively Improved Network facilities and terminal devices are key links of end-to-end connectivity of IPv6. In China, 4G, 5G and fixed broadband network infrastructure fully support IPv6. In December 2021, China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom completed the upgrading and transformation of IPv6 in backbone network, metropolitan area network and LTE (Long Term Evolution) network. Newly-built 5G network fully supports IPv6, and all backbone straight points realize IPv6 interconnectivity. Data center and domain name system basically support IPv6, and content distribution network (CDN) and cloud service platform possess IPv6 service capability. The number of IPv6 connection to IoT reaches 140 million, the IPv6 traffic of mobile network accounts for 35.15%, the IPv6 traffic of fixed network accounts for 9.38%, the IPv6 support rate of household wireless router reaches 16%, the IPv6 support rate of governmental portal reaches 81.8%, and the IPv6 support rate of major business websites and mobile Internet applications reaches 80.7%. 200 mobile apps that are frequently used by domestic Internet users all support IPv6 access. Mainstream 4G/5G mobile phone terminals in the market all support IPv6. In household gateway allocated by basic telecom operators for broadband users, more than 80% have obtained IPv6 addresses.10

2.2.4 The Innovation in Navigation Satellite Market Remains Active BDS (BeiDou Navigation Satellite System) serves as a global navigation satellite system that China independently builds and puts into operation to meet the needs of national economic and social development. After it was constructed, launched and put into service, BeiDou-3 Global Navigation Satellite System has been widely used in more than half of countries and regions in the world. The large-scale application of BDS comes to a critical development stage of marketization, industrialization and internationalization. BDS provides global users with three types of services, i.e. positioning, navigation and time service, international search and rescue and global short message communication, and China and surrounding areas with four types of regional services, i.e. regional short message communication, satellite-based augmentation, precise point positioning and ground-based augmentation. Simultaneously, China undertakes to take multiple measures to ensure the safe and stable operation of BDS and provides continuous, stable and reliable services to global users. 10

Data Source: Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission.

38

2 The Construction of Information Infrastructure

In China, satellite navigation and location service industry focuses on the innovation in technological systems and application models and energetically promotes the integrated innovation of “BDS +” and the spatio-temporal application and development of “+ BDS”. BDS has been widely used in the public service field (e.g. public security, transportation, disaster relief and reduction, communication and time service, weather forecast, agriculture, forestry and fishery), as well as infrastructure construction (e.g. power, water conservancy and communication). Besides, BDS is gradually integrated with information technologies such as IoT, cloud computing, big data and AI. By the end of 2021, more than 7.9 million road operating vehicles, 36,300 postal and express vehicles and more than 100,000 agricultural machinery auto-drive systems had applied BDS. BDS is widely used in the fields of mass consumption, sharing economy and people’s livelihood. In January 2022, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued Several Opinions on Promoting and Applying BDS in the Field of Mass Consumption, so as to actively create a policy environment conducive to the healthy development of BDS application industry and expand the scale application of BDS in the field of mass consumption. By the end of 2021, the shipment of domestic smart phones that support BDS accounted for 94.5% of the total shipment. With smart phones, vehicle-mounted terminals, wearable devices and other carriers, BDS serves all aspects of food, clothing, housing and transportation, such as green travel, takeaway delivery, healthcare and care for children. BDS application industry develops rapidly, with industrial foundation further consolidated and industrial ecology further improved. In 2021, in China, the total output value of satellite navigation and location service industry reached 469 billion yuan, with an increase of 16.29% over 2020. Specifically, industrial core output value of chips, algorithms, navigation data, software, devices, terminal equipment and infrastructure directly related to the research and development and application of satellite navigation technology reached 145.4 billion yuan, and the associated output value derived from satellite navigation applications and location services reached 326.3 billion yuan. Under new circumstances, China adheres to the principles of openness and integration, coordination and cooperation, compatibility and complementarity and sharing achievement and joins hands with various parties to improve the construction of BDS, accelerate the development of BDS application industry, share the achievements of BDS, and promote the progress of global satellite navigation, so that BDS better serves the world and benefits mankind.

2.3 Overall Layout in the Construction of Computing Infrastructure

39

2.3 Overall Layout in the Construction of Computing Infrastructure The Plan for Development of the Digital Economy During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period proposes to accelerate the implementation of “Channeling Computing Resources from the East to the West” Project, promote the coordinated development of cloud and network, augment cross-network and cross-regional data-interaction capability of data centers, strengthen edge computing power for specific use cases, and enhance overall planning and intelligent allocation of computing power. China coordinates the construction of computing infrastructure, completes the overall layout of the national integrated big data center system, and launches “Channeling Computing Resources from the East to the West” Project in an all-round way. The market scale of cloud computing continues to grow, and the application scope of cloud computing continues to expand. The development of edge computing accelerates, with a prominent trend of cloud-edge integrated development.

2.3.1 The Construction of Data Centers Advances in Large Scale 1. “Channeling Computing Resources from the East to the West” Project Is Launched in an All-Round Way China deploys a national integrated big data center system in a coordinated way and implements “Channeling Computing Resources from the East to the West” Project. By constructing a new-type computing power network system that integrates data centers, cloud computing and big data, the demand for computing power in the east can be channeled to the west in an orderly manner, which optimizes the construction and layout of data centers and promotes the coordination and linkage between the east and the west. In February 2022, National Development and Reform Commission, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and National Energy Administration jointly issued a notice, agreeing to start the construction of national computing hub nodes in eight regions (i.e. Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong-Hong KongMacao Greater Bay Area, Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, Inner Mongolia, Guizhou, Gansu and Ningxia), and plan ten national data center clusters. Therefore, overall layout and design of the national integrated big data center system has been completed, and “Channeling Computing Resources from the East to the West” Project has been officially staged. The implementation of the project helps to optimize the overall layout of China’s computing power infrastructure, raise the efficiency of computing power utilization and achieve large-scale and intensive development. Building data centers in the west can better utilize green energy in the west, foster industrial development and effective

40

2 The Construction of Information Infrastructure

investment in the west, and expedite the coordinated development of the east and the west. By April 2022, in ten national data center clusters, 25 new projects had started, and data centers had 540,000 standard racks in scale, which attracted an investment of more than 190 billion yuan from various parties. In particular, the investment in the west jumped by six times over 2021.11 2. China Ranks the 2nd in Overall Scale of Computing Power in the World In China, the booming digital economy generates massive data and raises higher requirements for storage and computing. The market scale and construction scope of domestic data centers continue to expand. China ranks the 2nd in overall scale of computing power in the world. By the end of June 2022, the total scale of in-use data center racks outnumbered 5.9 million standard racks, server scale reached around 20 million, and the total scale of computing power exceeded 150 EFlop/s. According to the estimation of China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), in 2021, the scale of computing power core industry exceeded 1.5 trillion yuan. To be specific, the scale of cloud computing market reached more than 300 billion yuan, the scale of IDC service market achieved more than 150 billion yuan, and the scale of AI core industry realized more than 400 billion yuan. The pillar role of computing power industry becomes increasingly prominent. Presently, China has more than 450 super-large and large-scale data centers and more than 20 intelligent computing centers in use. As the construction of computing infrastructure continues to advance, China accelerates innovation in computing technology, maintains rapid growth of computing industry, and perfects the ecology of computing industry. In China, the chain of computing industry continues to improve. The ecology of computing industry with international competitiveness that comprises computing infrastructure, computing platform and computing service starts to take shape. It covers the upstream industry of facility-equipment-software providers and network operators, the midstream industry of basic telecom operators, third-party data center service providers and cloud computing manufacturers, and the downstream industry of Internet enterprises, industrial enterprises and government-finance-power sectors. A number of computing platforms, new-type data centers and industrial bases with exemplary effects are established.

2.3.2 The Application Scope of Cloud Computing Continues to Expand In China, the scale of cloud computing market maintains rapid growth, and the investment in cloud computing construction continuously increases. According to the data released by Canalys, the expenditure on cloud infrastructure service in Chinese mainland increased by 21% year on year and reached 7.3 billion U.S. dollars 11

Data Source: National Development and Reform Commission.

2.3 Overall Layout in the Construction of Computing Infrastructure

41

in the first quarter of 2022. In China, the scale of public cloud market dominates cloud computing market. As cloud computing plays an increasingly important role in the digital transformation of enterprises, IaaS (infrastructure as a service) in public cloud develops vigorously, accounting for more than 70% of public cloud market. Buffeted by the COVID-19 pandemic, online business springs up, and the scale of SaaS (software as a service) market grows steadily, accounting for more than 20% of public cloud market. As database, middleware, micro-service and other services mature, PaaS (platform as a service) market retains a high growth rate, accounting for c. 10% of public cloud market. In recent years, after the iterative development of cloud computing technology, the overall market pattern of cloud computing in China becomes stable. In the first quarter of 2022, top four cloud service providers in Chinese market were Alibaba, Huawei, Tencent and Baidu, with a market share of 36.7%, 18%, 15.7% and 8.4% respectively. Alibaba Cloud boasts the manufacturer to firstly enter cloud computing market in China. After over-ten-year innovation in cloud native technology and business model, Alibaba Cloud becomes the third largest (in the world) and the largest (in Asia) cloud service provider. Huawei enters cloud market later. Yet, Huawei relies on decades of technology and customer accumulation, puts forward “cloud-cloud collaboration” strategy, constantly explores innovative services for the collaboration of Huawei Cloud, Huawei terminal cloud and Huawei process-based IT cloud, and provides stable, reliable, secure and sustainable cloud services for government and enterprise customers. With long-term accumulation, Tencent Cloud forges development advantages in the fields of socializing, game, audio and video and finance, and provides solutions more suitable for industrial features. Particularly, in the field of finance, Tencent’s “1 + 4 + 5” financial cloud architecture furnishes compliant, secure and innovative cloud services for the financial industry. With technological advantages in the field of AI, Baidu launches intelligent cloud that integrates cloud with intelligence. In recent years, Baidu has a widespread influence in the fields of smart finance, smart energy, smart medicine, smart city and industrial quality inspection.

2.3.3 Edge Computing Develops Fast Edge computing provides important support for 5G, IoT, AI, cloud computing and other emerging technologies, and develops into an important computing technology. In China, edge technology develops rapidly, and its market share expands. According to the data released by China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), in 2021, the market scale of edge computing in China reached 43.64 billion yuan, i.e. 29.02 billion yuan in the market scale of edge hardware and 14.62 billion yuan in the market scale of edge software and services. As estimated, the

42

2 The Construction of Information Infrastructure

market scale of edge computing in China will grow to 180.37 billion yuan in 2024.12 Meanwhile, the market scale of edge computing servers in China enlarges rapidly. According to the data released by International Data Corporation (IDC), in 2021, the overall market scale of edge computing servers in China realized 3.31 billion U.S. dollars, up 23.9% over 2020. In terms of market scale, top three manufacturers were Inspur, Huawei and H3C.13 In some industries and fields, edge computing becomes an important supporting force for industrial development. For example, in the industrial field, Chinese industrial enterprises accelerate the construction of edge computing infrastructure, produce customer-ordered edge computing servers, and deploy digital applications like industrial quality inspection, equipment predictive maintenance and line and pipeline detection, by virtue of industrial visual intelligence and data intelligence technology. As the market continues to grow, more scientific and technological enterprises start to deploy in the edge computing field. Now, in China, enterprises in edge computing market can be roughly categorized into four types. The first type includes ICT manufacturers represented by Lenovo Group and H3C. They integrate basic software, hardware and technological services with edge computing scenes, realize the privatized deployment of software-hardware edge computing, and promote cloud-network integration, so as to achieve the full combination of 5G cloud-based network and edge computing and meet the demands for new-type edge-side high-performance network and computing resources urgently needed in intelligent applications in various industries. The second type includes public cloud manufacturers represented by Amazon, Baidu and Alibaba. They extend cloud computing capabilities to devices and users, expand the scope of cloud data centers, apply a uniform programming model of cloud native to device-based edge cloud via edge gateway, and highlight the integration of cloud-edge collaboration. The third type includes communication network operators represented by China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom. They provide edge computing service and 5G network-access management of base stations with the advantage in network construction. The fourth type includes device manufacturers represented by Siemens and Apple. They mainly focus on device-side edge infrastructure, extend to remote data centers, and perform some tasks on cloud side that cannot be completed on edge side.

12

Data Source: Edge Computing Market and User Insight Report 2022 published by China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). 13 Data Source: PRC Edge Computing Server Tracker (The Second Half of 2021) published by IDC.

2.4 The Construction of Application Infrastructure Quickens

43

2.4 The Construction of Application Infrastructure Quickens China speeds up the construction of application infrastructure and continues to improve top-level design. Policy-spurred market demand expands yearly, with industrial empowerment significantly enhanced. IoT system matures and integrates with production and life in a fast way. Three systems in industrial Internet, i.e. network, platform and security, achieve large-scale development, and application services continuously deepen. The implementation of IoV accelerates, industrial ecology matures, and security standards continuously improve.

2.4.1 IoT Develops Fast 1. Policies in the IoT Field Are Optimized With the continuous development of IoT technology and its integration with and application to production and life, IoT has a deeper impact on society. IoT develops swiftly in China. Relevant departments successively issue a series of policies and standards to guide the construction of domestic IoT systems. In September 2021, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and other six departments jointly issued The Three-Year Action Plan (2021–2023) for the Construction of New-Type IoT Infrastructure to promote the construction of new-type IoT infrastructure in a coordinated way. In October 2021, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released Guidelines for the Construction of Basic Security Standard Systems for IoT (2021 Edition), which aimed to further give play to standards in regulating and ensuring basic IoT security. In June 2022, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced 179 IoT demonstration projects in 2021, which effectively promoted the development of domestic IoT industry. Simultaneously, China continually strengthens the construction of IoT demonstration bases and fully utilizes the effect of demonstration and agglomeration. For example, China sustainably promotes the construction of Wuxi National Sensor Network Innovation Demonstration Zone and constantly summarizes Wuxi’s successful experience in IoT industrial agglomeration, technological innovation and application demonstration. Besides, China continuously advances the construction of five new-type IoT industrial demonstration bases in Hangzhou, Wuxi, Chongqing, Fuzhou and Yingtan, further improves industrial agglomeration effects of various IoT bases, and quickly forms the pattern of agglomeration and development in four major regions, i.e. Circum-Bohai Sea Economic Zone, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta and the central and western region. 2. IoT Technology Develops and Matures

44

2 The Construction of Information Infrastructure

In China, the scale of IoT industry keeps expanding. According to the data released by Internet Society of China, in 2021, the scale of IoT industry in China exceeded 1.7 trillion yuan, which would exceed two trillion yuan in 2022, as predicted. Currently, the architecture of IoT matures, which basically consists of perception layer, network layer, platform layer, data-analysis layer and application layer. On perception layer, data are generated and collected, and transmitted to platform layer that supports computing power via network layer that uses various communication technologies. Data-analysis layer mainly uses big data technology to complete data pre-processing and analysis, and finally feeds back services to application layer (use case). On perception layer, key technologies are identification technology and sensing technology. Identification technology is mostly used to identify objects through radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, barcode, QR code, object feature and other methods. Sensing technology mainly hinges on sensors. In recent years, sensors show the development characteristics of “high precision, intelligence, integration and small scale”. Presently, in terms of IoT perception layer, hot topics or technological conundrums center on multi-sensor fusion, MEMS-CMOS compatible technology and intelligent sensor integrated with microcontroller unit (MCU). The rapid development of IoT industry occasions rapid growth of the scale of sensor market. Preliminary statistics suggested that in 2021, the scale of sensor market in China reached around 285 billion yuan.14 Network layer mainly relies on wireless transmission technology. Wireless transmission technology can be divided into two types according to transmission distance. The first type is wireless LAN technology represented by ZigBee, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Limited by connection range and other factors, wireless LAN technology is mostly applied to indoor scenes like smart home and smart building in the form of combination. The second type is mobile IoT technology (WAN communication technology) represented by 5G, NB-IoT and LTE Cat-1. Ministry of Industry and Information Technology releases The Notice on Deepening the Comprehensive Development of Mobile Internet of Things. As stated, China strives to establish comprehensive ecosystem of mobile IoT with the coordinated development of NB-IoT, LTE Cat-1 and 5G technologies. NB-IoT is used to meet the needs of most low-rate use cases, LTE Cat-1 is used to meet the needs of medium-rate IoT and voice, and 5G technology is used to meet the needs of high-speed and low-latency networking. Platform layer mainly plays a connecting role in the whole IoT architecture. According to functions, IoT platform includes four parts, i.e. connection management platform, device management platform, application empowering platform and business analysis platform. Connection management platform is mainly used for IoT connection management, fault management, network resource usage management, tariff management, bill management and service hosting. Device management platform is mainly used for remote supervision, system upgrading, software upgrading, 14

Data Source: Analysis Report on Market Outlook and Investment Strategy Planning of Sensor Manufacturing Industry in China published by Prospective Industrial Research Institute (data by March 9, 2022).

2.4 The Construction of Application Infrastructure Quickens

45

troubleshooting and life cycle management of IoT terminal devices. Application empowering platform mainly provides IoT developers with application development tools, API interface, interactive interface and other support services. Business analysis platform mainly provides customers with data analysis, data visualization, data observation, data storage and other services. In 2021, CTWing released CTWing 5.0, a China Telecom IoT Open Platform. As a unified digital open platform for China Telecom IoT capabilities, CTWing 5.0 integrates cloud-network integration, 5G fullconnection management, device management, city perception, end-to-end security and other comprehensive capabilities of China Telecom. Presently, the platform has served 260 million users, including c. 100 million 5G and NB-IoT users, ranking the 1st in the world. The number of IoT connected devices exceeds 60 million, and the average number of calls of CTWing 5.0 approaches 20 billion times per month. CTWing 5.0 builds CTWing smart community, whose industrial application products are deployed 25,000 times nationwide.15 Data-analysis layer is mainly used to intelligently analyze the collected data. With the integration and development of AI, big data, cloud computing and other technologies in the field of IoT, the capability of data analysis becomes more prominent and boosts the development of intelligent IoT. For example, Alibaba introduces IoT data analysis LA (link analytics) services. The whole chain covers device data collection, management (storage), cleaning, analysis and other links, which effectively reduces the threshold for data analysis and realizes the integration, analysis and detection of device data and business data. Application layer has the largest market space, and covers smart home for life, IIoT for industry, and smart government and smart transportation for public fields. For example, Xinyuan Coal Mine of Lu’an Group in Shanxi Province uses “5G + IoT” technology to create the use case of remote equipment control. The staff can remotely control tunneling machine, coal mining machine, hydraulic support and other equipment to complete underground tunneling, fully mechanized mining and other operations. Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Shanghai) integrates IoT, AI, AR and other technologies to realize the auxiliary assembly of aircraft cable connectors via 5G network, transmit 3D model, interactive information and live interactive content, and achieve the goal of improving the assembly efficiency of aircraft cable connectors by 100%.

2.4.2 The Development of Industrial Internet Enters the “Fast Lane” 1. Policies Sustainably Promote Industrial Development China attaches great importance to the development of industrial Internet, and relevant departments successively issue a series of policies. In February 2022, Ministry 15

Data Source: China Telecom.

46

2 The Construction of Information Infrastructure

of Industry and Information Technology released The List of 2021 Industrial Internet Pilot Demonstration Projects, with 123 projects included in the list. In April 2022, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with 19 member departments of Industrial Internet Special Working Group, issued 2022 Work Plan of Industrial Internet Special Working Group, which put forward a series of policies and measures in such aspects as facility construction, integrated application, technological innovation, industrial ecology, security guarantee and factor support. In China, 21 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government include industrial Internet in reports of local government work in 2022, and continuously accelerate the construction of industrial Internet. Various provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government also introduce relevant policies in line with regional characteristics. For example, Guangdong, Shandong, Fujian, Liaoning and other regions reinforce their support for the infrastructure construction of “5G + industrial Internet” and provide special funds for relevant projects. Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Hubei and other regions promote the establishment of industrial demonstration bases to create typical demonstration and application of industrial Internet. Zhejiang, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi and other regions encourage the establishment of the “5G + industrial Internet” industrial public technology service platform to provide support for improving industrial ecological environment. Beijing, Tianjin, Sichuan and other regions focus on cultivating “5G + industrial Internet”-related technologies and improving the capability of technological research and development and achievement transformation. Shandong, Chongqing, Henan, Shanxi and other regions strengthen the construction of talent teams, and train or introduce leading talents in industrial Internet. 2. The Construction of Industrial Internet System is Preliminarily Improved In China, the construction of industrial Internet makes significant progress, industrial development comes to the stage of acceleration, and three systems of network, platform and security achieve large-scale development. In terms of network, newtype network models, such as industrial 5G slice virtual private network and hybrid virtual private network, become popular rapidly. With the in-depth promotion of “5G + industrial Internet” (512 Project), there are more than 2400 under-construction “5G + industrial Internet” projects nationwide. The deployment of virtual private network and hybrid private network is quickened, and the application support capability of industrial Internet infrastructure is continuously upgraded. In terms of platform, various regions actively cultivate “comprehensive, characteristic and professional” platform systems. By May 2022, industrial Internet platform systems at the national, industrial and corporate levels were initially established. There are more than 150 characteristic platforms with industrial and regional influence in China, with more than 78 million sets of industrial devices connected and more than 1.6 million industrial enterprises served. The total number of domestic industrial apps exceeds 590,000, and the scale of industrial Internet industry outnumbers one trillion yuan. Industrial Internet deeply extends to vertical industries. Widely used in R&D and design, production and manufacturing, operation and management and other chains, industrial Internet builds core support systems for the digital transformation

2.4 The Construction of Application Infrastructure Quickens

47

of manufacturing industry.16 In terms of security, a national industrial Internet security monitoring and situational awareness platform has been fully connected with 31 provincial systems, the industrial Internet security situational awareness system of “national-province-enterprise” three-level collaborative linkage has been initially constructed, and the pilot work of classified and graded management of industrial Internet enterprises has been further promoted. 3. Identification and Resolution System of Industrial Internet Is Constructed and Developed in an Orderly Way Identification and resolution system of industrial Internet that features national top nodes begins to take shape. Since the implementation of Industrial Internet Identification Management Measures in June 2021, by May 2022, enterprises had been guided to build 197 second-level nodes for identification and resolution, serve 130,000 enterprises, and expand the identification and resolution system to 34 key industries like medicine, shipping and automobile manufacturing. The daily resolution of national top nodes has exceeded 98.59 million times, and the number of active identification carriers has totaled 6.67 million. The role of industrial Internet platforms in empowering industrial transformation intensifies.17 Additionally, the standards for industrial Internet improve. In September 2021, a series of “one outline and five parts” national standards like The Implementation Guide for the Application of Industrial Internet Platforms were successfully established, so as to guide the establishment of 15 industrial standards and accelerate the large-scale popularization of industrial Internet platforms with standardization. 4. Application Services Continue to Deepen and Develop Presently, in China, industrial Internet has basically formed six typical models of integrated application, i.e. digital research and development, intelligent manufacturing, networked collaboration, personal need-based customization, serviceoriented extension and detail-based management, covering 41 major categories of national economy. 5G integrated application plays a major role in the industrial field. There are more than 1800 “5G + industrial Internet” projects nationwide, covering 22 important industries of national economy, such as aviation, mining, steel and iron, port and electricity. Six new models are popularized in many industries, which effectively promotes the industrial transformation and upgrading and industrial integrated development. The application of “5G + industrial Internet” extends from use cases (e.g. production-site monitoring and intelligent logistics in workshop) to various indepth chains (e.g. product collaborative research and development design and remote device control). A number of typical use cases of “5G + industrial Internet” mushroom, with enormous value in promotion and demonstration. In July 2021, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology initiated the collection of innovation and pilot use cases of industrial Internet platforms, and chose 140 platform solutions and use cases with promotion value to guide the connection between supply and demand. 16 17

Data Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Data Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

48

2 The Construction of Information Infrastructure

2.4.3 IoV Develops and Progresses Steadily 1. The Policy Environment for the Development of IoV Continues to Be Optimized China continuously strengthens the top-level design of IoV and issues a series of policies to promote the standardized and healthy development of IoV. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council release The Outline of National Comprehensive Three-Dimensional Transport Network Planning, which clearly proposes to bolster overall layout and coordinated construction of transport infrastructure and information infrastructure, and boost the deployment and application of IoV. In July 2021, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Transport jointly issued The Management Standards for Road Test and Demonstration Application of Intelligent Connected Vehicles (Trial) to back the development of demonstration application and highway test. In August 2021, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology published The Opinions on Strengthening the Access Management of Intelligent Connected Vehicle Manufacturing Enterprises and Products to strengthen the management of OTA (over-the-air) technology and data security. 2. The Construction of IoV Infrastructure Is Widely Implemented New-type infrastructure of IoV quickly turns into reality and achieves initial results. Since 2019, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has successively approved four national IoV pilot areas in Jiangsu (Wuxi), Tianjin (Xiqing), Hunan (Changsha) and Chongqing (Liangjiang New Area), actively facilitated the construction of IoV infrastructure, connectivity verification and large-scale application and promotion, and formed the development pattern with extensive layout, key breakthroughs and local characteristics. Simultaneously, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has promoted IoV-based upgrading and transformation of key highways like Beijing-Shanghai “No.1 Expressway” and Shizhu-Chongqing Expressway, built IoV-based pilot application and demonstration highway, and empowered trunk logistics. In 2021, Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology identified 16 cities (i.e. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Wuxi, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Nanjing, Jinan, Chengdu, Hefei, Cangzhou, Wuhu and Zibo) as pilot cities for the coordinated development of smart city infrastructure and intelligent connected vehicles, which continuously improved the intelligent level of smart city infrastructure and realized the demonstration and application of intelligent connected vehicles at different levels in specific use cases. The deployment of IoV infrastructure advances in an orderly manner. Over 3500 km of roads have been upgraded intelligently, and more than 4000 roadside communication units have been deployed in more than 20 cities and several expressways. 3. The Deployment of IoV Pre-manufacture Application Is Accelerated With the continuous development of IoV technology, driver assistance systems, CV2X (cellular-vehicle to everything) and other functions accelerate the application

2.4 The Construction of Application Infrastructure Quickens

49

of pre-manufacture application. In 2021, the combination rate of driver assistance systems in China increased significantly. In terms of commercial vehicles, AEB, LDW and other driver assistance systems play an important role in improving driving safety. China quickens the installation of relevant functions on operating cars and trucks, and the market scale will exceed one million vehicles as estimated.18 In terms of cars, in the first half of 2021, the sales of L2 cars realized 1.95 million, of which the utilization rate of new L2 energy vehicles reached 30.7%. Now, Chinese automobile enterprises continuously deploy in the field of IoV, strengthen the innovation and application of intelligent technologies, expand the functional setting and use case on the basis of L2 level automatic driving, and approach L3 functions. Besides, China actively carries out the research on the L4 self-driving taxi (Robotaxi), and Baidu, Pony.ai, AutoX, WeRide and other enterprises engage in relevant demonstration operations. C-V2X technology serves as special wireless communication technology for IoV that can ensure low delay and high reliability. After years of technological development and industrial progress, China makes breakthroughs in the commercial use of C-V2X, with many models pre-equipped with C-VX terminal. Now, FAW, BAIC, SAIC, GAC, Great Wall Motor, Geely, BYD, NIO, WM Motor and Human Horizons have conducted mass production or released pre-manufacture C-V2X models. Joint ventures such as Changan Ford and SAIC GM have also realized the pre-manufacture application of C-V2X.

18

Data Source: China Intelligent Connected Vehicle Industrial Development Report 2021 published by China Society of Automotive Engineers, National Innovation Center of Intelligent and Connected Vehicles and relevant organizations.

Chapter 3

The Development of Digital Economy

3.1 Outline Under the dual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic downturn, digital economy in China displays great resilience. According to China Digital Economy Development Report 2022 released by China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), in 2021, the scale of digital economy in China reached 45.5 trillion yuan, accounting for c. 40% of GDP. In general, China continually augments the support for the policy environment of digital economy and accelerates the construction of data element market. Digital industrialization develops steadily, and industrial digitization advances deeply. In terms of digital economy, digital and green coordination deepens, new business forms and models emerge, and governance systems mature.

3.2 The Support for the Policy Environment of Digital Economy Intensifies When presiding over the 34th collective study of Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that we should pursue a strategy of national rejuvenation amid global changes unseen in a century, take a holistic approach to the situation both at home and abroad and the theme of development and security, give full play to the advantages of massive data and rich use cases, deepen the integration of digital technology and real economy, empower the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, and breed new industries as well as new business forms and models, in a bid to constantly strengthen, optimize and expand digital economy in China.

© Publishing House of Electronics Industry 2024 China Internet Development Report 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5130-7_3

51

52

3 The Development of Digital Economy

3.2.1 Attaching Great Importance to the Healthy Development of Digital Economy The CPC Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to the healthy development of digital economy and make a series of planning and deployment. In July 2022, General Office of the State Council issued The Letter on Agreeing to Establish An Inter-Ministerial Joint Conference System for the Development of Digital Economy, which further strengthened the overall coordination of system construction and policy measures in the field of digital economy and jointly promoted the healthy development of digital economy. In March 2022, The Report of Government Work proposed to promote the development of digital economy, enhance overall layout of the construction of digital China, boost the digital transformation of industries, raise the innovation and supply capability of key software and hardware technologies, improve the governance of digital economy, and cultivate data element market. In December 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission issued The Plan for National Information Technology During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period. According to the plan, by 2025, the quality and efficiency of the development of digital economy will reach the global leading level, and new business forms and models of digital economy will develop healthily, with better digital business environments and stronger digital products and service market. In December 2021, the State Council released The Plan for Development of the Digital Economy During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period. According to the plan, by 2025, the added value of core sectors of digital economy will account for 10% of GDP, the capability of digital innovation in leading the development will significantly improve, the intelligent level will evidently rise, the integration of digital technology and real economy will produce remarkable results, the governance system of digital economy will mature, and the competitiveness and influence of China’s digital economy will steadily improve. In November 2021, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued The Plan for the Development of Big Data Industry During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period. According to the plan, by 2025, the estimated scale of big data industry will exceed three trillion yuan, with an average CAGR of 25%. A modern bigdata industrial system with strong innovation, high added value and independent control ability will basically form. In July 2021, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released The Three-Year Action Plan (2021–2023) for the Development of New-Type Data Centers. According to the action plan, China will take three years to basically forge the development pattern of green or low-carbon new-type data centers with reasonable layout and advanced technology, in which the scale of computing power tallies with the growth of digital economy.

3.2 The Support for the Policy Environment of Digital Economy Intensifies

53

3.2.2 (Various Regions) Accelerating the Introduction of Policies on Digital Economy In order to implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, various regions accelerate the introduction of plans, regulations or measures in the field of digital economy, and draw blueprints for future development. By June 2022, 26 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government in China had issued development plans for digital economy in the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Shanghai, Yunnan and Anhui formulate three-year action plans for digital economy, and Beijing, Hebei, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Henan release The Regulations on the Promotion of Digital Economy. Beijing enacts The Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Construction of Global Digital Economy Benchmark City, which proposes to build “Beijing model” for the development of digital economy in China and “Beijing benchmark” for the development of global digital economy, and accelerate the construction of global benchmark city in digital economy. Shanghai releases The Action Plan (2021– 2023) for Promoting the Transformation of Digital Economy and Empowering the High-Quality Development in Shanghai, which states that by 2023, Shanghai will be built into a world-class innovation-driven industrial cluster zone, a demonstration zone for the integrated development of digital economy and real economy, a leading zone for economic digital transformation and ecological construction, and a model city for international innovation and cooperation in digital economy. Jiangxi introduces The Opinions on Deeply Promoting No.1 Development Project of Better and Stronger Digital Economy. As stated, Jiangxi strives to maintain higher growth rate of the added value of digital economy than provincial economic growth rate and national average growth rate in five years, and double the scale of digital economy (accounting for around 45% of provincial GDP), with the added value of core industries of digital economy accounting for more than 10% of provincial GDP. Jilin publishes The Implementation Plan for Promoting the High-Quality Development of New E-commerce Industry, which includes the development and expansion of new e-commerce into “six major new industries”, and comprehensively fosters the vigorous development of new e-commerce industry represented by live e-commerce, social e-commerce and community e-commerce.

3.2.3 Strengthening the Digital Support for Traditional Industries 1. The Field of Agriculture In the field of agriculture, in October 2021, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued The Opinions on Promoting the Development of Stronger and Better Leading Enterprises in Agricultural Industrialization. According to the opinion document, in

54

3 The Development of Digital Economy

the future, China will improve the digital development capability of leading enterprises, develop smart agriculture, encourage leading enterprises to build industrial Internet and other productive service sharing platforms, strengthen the digital transformation of the whole chain of production, processing, circulation and service, and enhance the information and intelligence level of the whole chain of rural industries. In January 2022, ten departments including Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission released The Action Plan for the Development of Digital Village 2022–2025. According to the action plan, China will develop rural digital economy, improve rural residents’ digital literacy and skills, invigorate rural Internet culture, and raise the governance efficiency of rural digitalization in the future. In January 2022, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued The Opinions on Key Work of Promoting Rural Revitalization in an All-Round Way in 2022. According to the opinion document, in the future, China will implement “Digital Commerce for Prosperous Agriculture” Project, promote e-commerce in rural areas, accelerate “Internet +” Channeling Agricultural Products to Urban Areas Project, and vigorously advance the construction of digital village. In April 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and other four departments released Key Work for the Development of Digital Village in 2022. According to the document, by the end of 2022, overall stable performance in agriculture was ensured by digital technology, and information-based agricultural production was steadily improved. 2. The Field of Industry In the field of industry, in November 2021, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued The Plan for Deepening the Integrated Development of Informatization and Industrialization During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period. According to the plan, by 2025, the pace of digital transformation of manufacturing industry will significantly accelerate. National integration development index of informatization and industrialization will reach 105, and the popularization rate of industrial Internet platform will reach 45%, forming a new pattern of platform enterprise-empowered integrated development of large and medium enterprises. In the same month, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in conjunction with Standardization Administration, issued The Guidelines for the Construction of Industrial Internet Integrated Standardization System (2021 Edition). According to the guidelines, by 2025, more than 100 standards for key technologies, products, management and applications of industrial Internet will be formulated, and a unified, integrated and open industrial Internet standard system will be established. 3. The Field of Service Industry In the field of service industry, in November 2021, Ministry of Commerce released The Plan for the High-quality Development of Foreign Trade During the 14th FiveYear Plan Period. According to the plan, China will vigorously develop digital trade, establish and improve a digital-trade promotion policy system, and explore and develop the diversified business models of digital trade in the future. In December 2021, the State Council issued The Plan for Tourism Development During the 14th

3.2 The Support for the Policy Environment of Digital Economy Intensifies

55

Five-Year Plan Period. The plan requires to accelerate the promotion of smart tourism characterized by digitalization, networking and intelligence, deepen “Internet + tourism” model, and enlarge the use cases of new technologies. In January 2022, the State Council issued The Plan for the Development of Modern Comprehensive Transportation System During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period. The plan requires to promote the deep integration of new technologies such as Internet, big data, AI, and blockchain with the transportation industry, expand the application of advanced technology and equipment, and build an intelligent transportation system with universal connectivity, flexible coordination and global competitiveness. In May 2022, General Office of the CPC Central Committee and General Office of the State Council issued The Opinions on Promoting the Implementation of National Cultural Digitalization Strategy. According to the opinion document, by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the infrastructure and service platform for cultural digitalization will be basically completed, the data centers of various cultural institutions will be generally connected, the digital layout of cultural industry will be mainly realized, and the digital construction of public culture will be effectively upgraded to a new level, forming a cultural service supply system with online and offline interaction and three-dimensional coverage.

3.2.4 The Governance System of Digital Economy Improves The CPC Central Committee and the State Council always attach great importance to the governance of digital economy. The Report of Government Work in 2022 proposed that “to better promote economic development and enrich people’s lives, we will improve governance of the digital economy, develop data markets, tap the potential of data as a factor of production, and enhance data-use capacities”. Relevant departments have conducted multi-dimensional exploration, improved the legal system of digital economy governance, and advanced the construction of digital economy collaborative governance and regulation mechanism. The Plan for Development of the Digital Economy During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period specifically plans and deploys the improvement of the governance system of digital economy from the aspects of strengthening the collaborative governance and regulation mechanism, enhancing the government’s digital governance capability and improving a new pattern of multi-party governance. Relevant departments continuously enhance the governance capability of digital economy. The statistical monitoring and decision-making analysis system based on big data, AI, blockchain and other new technologies are used in the regulation and decision-making process, which improves the accuracy, coordination and effectiveness of digital economic governance. In January 2022, National Development and Reform Commission and other eight departments issued Several Opinions on Promoting the Standardized, Healthy and Sustainable Development of Platform Economy. According to the opinion document, China will explore the regulatory mechanism that adapts to the characteristics of platform economy, promote

56

3 The Development of Digital Economy

the effective connection between online and offline supervision, and strengthen the supervision of platform operators and their behaviors. State Administration for Market Regulation publishes The Annual Report on China’s Anti-Monopoly LawEnforcement 2021. As suggested, now, with “one out of two” behavior on platforms basically prohibited, the market competition order improves significantly, and businesses on the platform, especially small and medium-sized operators, gain broader development space, which further enhance the vitality of development. In China, the governance of digital economy turns from single-subject governance to multi-subject cooperative governance, and pays more attention to the role of industrial organizations, consumer organizations and the public in supervising the market operation order. In June 2022, the 35th Session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress voted to adopt The Decision on Amending The Anti-Monopoly Law of the People’s Republic of China, which proposed to highlight the role of industrial associations and encourage industrial associations to guide platform enterprises to strengthen the exchange, interconnection and mutual recognition of relevant credit evaluations such as the list of serious violations and breach of trust by taking the lead in formulating group standards and industrial self-discipline agreements, urge platform enterprises to operate in compliance with the law, and propel platform enterprises to implement joint prevention and control of illegal acts of Internet operators. Simultaneously, priority is given to the role of social supervision, media supervision and public supervision, and concerted efforts are taken to promote the openness and transparency of the compliance operation of platform enterprises. In October 2021, State Administration for Market Regulation released The Guidelines for the Implementation of Main Responsibilities of Internet Platforms (Draft for Comments), which emphasized the social responsibilities of platform enterprises in many aspects.

3.3 The Construction of Data Factor Market Quickens In January 2022, General Office of the State Council issued The Master Plan for the Pilot Program of the Comprehensive Reform of the Market-oriented Allocation of Factors, which proposed to explore the establishment of data factor flow rules from four aspects, i.e. improving open public data sharing mechanism, establishing and improving data flow and transaction rules, expanding the cases of standardized data development and utilization, and strengthening the protection of data security. Over the past year, central and local governments actively explored the construction of data factor market, the model of data transaction and the establishment of data transaction exchange.

3.3 The Construction of Data Factor Market Quickens

57

3.3.1 Continuously Exploring and Building Data Factor Market China possesses massive data output and stock, both of which rank the top in the world and provide a solid foundation for the construction of data factor market. As estimated by Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies (CACS) and China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), in 2021, China’s data output reached 6.6 ZB, with a year-on-year increase of 29.4%, accounting for 9.9% of the total global data output (67 ZB), second only to the United States (16 ZB) in the world. By the end of 2021, China’s data stock had reached 598.4 EB, with a year-on-year increase of 27.4%, accounting for 14.1% of the total global data stock (4236.5 EB), up 0.8% over 2021 (13.3%). The global share continued to rise. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to improving data factor market. In March 2022, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued The Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of National Unified Big Market, which emphasized the need to build unified big market for data factors, establish and improve basic systems and standards such as data security, rights protection, cross-border transmission management, transaction flow, open data sharing and security certification, conduct in-depth data resource survey and promote the development and utilization of data resources. In June 2022, the 26th Session of Commission for Further Reform under the CPC Central Committee deliberated and adopted The Opinions on Building Data Base System to Better Play the Role of Data Factors, which proposed to safeguard national data security, protect personal information and business secrets, promote the efficient flow and use of data, empower real economy, comprehensively reinforce data property rights, flow transaction, income distribution and security governance, and accelerate the construction of the data base system. Presently, data factor market that centers on data collection, data storage, data processing, data flow and other chains thrives. As estimated by National Industrial Information Security Development Research Center (CIC), in 2021, the scale of data factor market in China reached 81.5 billion yuan, with a CAGR of more than 25% in the 14th Five-Year Plan period, marking a stage of rapid development or group breakthrough. In terms of industrial development, national data transaction institutions are upgraded and optimized, with continuous innovation in service model and content. Various regions focus on the paths and models for cultivating data factor market in line with regional characteristics. In data factor market, transaction institutions, operational systems and guarantee mechanisms mature. In terms of technological application, privacy computing technologies represented by federated learning, multi-party security computing and trusted execution environment turn to reality or industrial cases from “industry-university-research” model, and further integrate with blockchain and other technologies, making breakthroughs in data authentication, measurement and supervision.

58

3 The Development of Digital Economy

3.3.2 Making Innovation in Data Capitalization and Transaction Model Various regions successively release local data regulations and actively explore or promote the construction of a data asset governance system. In November 2021, Shanghai issued Shanghai Data Regulations, which proposed to explore the construction of a data asset evaluation index system, establish a data asset evaluation system and initiate a data asset certificate pilot program to reflect the asset value of data factors. In March 2022, Chongqing issued Chongqing Data Regulations, which proposed to establish a data asset evaluation system and an evaluation index system to foreground the asset value of data factors. In terms of industries, finance, Internet, communication, retail and other industries enjoy the “data dividend” earlier, and data asset management departments in these industries engage in data analysis and services. In March 2021, China Southern Power Grid released Data Asset Pricing Method (Trial), which specified the basic characteristic, product type, cost structure, pricing method and other relevant cost standards of data assets. In October 2021, SPD Bank released The Practice Report on the Construction of Commercial Bank’s Data Asset Management System, which divided data assets into basic data assets and service data assets, and wrote them into data asset operation statement, in parallel with balance sheet. Data transaction model is continuously developed and innovated. Currently, there are more data service providers in China, which help enterprises or institutions to operate the generated data. Data service providers do not directly own the data, but use privacy computing, blockchain and other technologies to process the data of data owners with authorization, provide data products, and connect with demanders. New models of data flow and utilization like data trust and data factor investment continue to emerge. Data trust means that data providers set up trust institutions with data as trust property, and trust institutions, according to the willingness of clients, carry out professional management or income distribution of the trust property by themselves or by entrusting third-party operating agencies. Data factor investment signifies a specific use case of “public data opening and sharing application”. Governments promise to open certain data use rights to enterprises to attract enterprises with data needs to settle in, share data development and utilization, create data value, and realize deep mining of data factor value and market-oriented allocation of data factors. In August 2021, China Federation of Electronics and Information Industry released Data Asset Trust Cooperation Plan, which gave priority to promoting pilot projects in four industries, i.e. digital copyright, “carbon neutrality and carbon dioxide peaking” green energy, medical insurance and international shipping. Totally, six evaluation institutions and nine pilot areas are chosen, and the standards are implemented by nearly 200 organizations.

3.3 The Construction of Data Factor Market Quickens

59

3.3.3 Successively Establishing Data Transaction Institutions By the end of 2019, 24 data transaction institutions initiated, guided or approved by governments were established in China. In 2020, China enacted documents like The Opinions on Building More Complete System and Mechanism of Market-Oriented Allocation of Factors, which formulated relevant policies of “market-oriented allocation of data factors”. Since then, the new-round construction of data transaction institutions has begun in various regions. Beijing International Data Exchange, Shanghai Data Exchange, Western China Data Exchange and Hunan Big Data Exchange are established in succession. Shenzhen Data Exchange, Guangzhou Data Exchange, Anhui Big Data Transaction Center and Inner Mongolia Data Transaction Center are under preparation. Presently, data transaction institutions are mainly initiated and established by governments or scientific and technological enterprises, which provide various parties in data transaction ecology with technological and institutional guarantees of full-process security, credibility and compliance. For example, Beijing International Data Exchange explores the establishment of data flow mechanism that integrates data registration, evaluation, sharing, transaction, application and service, and promotes the establishment of basic systems and standards for data resource property, transaction and flow, cross-border transmission and security protection. The data business system of Shanghai Data Exchange covers the whole process and multiple fields of data transaction, including data transaction subject, data compliance consultation, quality evaluation, asset evaluation, delivery, etc. Additionally, many data transaction institutions provide innovative products and services. For example, Beijing International Data Exchange provides products according to industrial needs, divides “social data area” into government service, public service, Fintech, transportation, energy, meteorology and other fields, and builds a data hosting service platform for the case of cross-border service, so as to provide data hosting, desensitized output, fusion computing, filing and record and other services in data cross-border transmission.

3.3.4 Promoting Cross-Border Data Transaction Business in an Orderly Manner In January 2022, National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Commerce jointly issued The Opinions on Several Special Measures to Relax Restrictions on Market Access in Shenzhen’s Construction of Pilot Demonstration Zone of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, which clarified the measures to relax restrictions on market access for data factor transactions and cross-border data business in Shenzhen. As required, Shenzhen will “actively participate in the formulation of international rules on cross-border data flow, carry out the pilot of data cross-border transmission (outbound) security management under the framework of the national

60

3 The Development of Digital Economy

and industrial data cross-border transmission security management system, and set up data security management mechanisms such as data security protection capability assessment and certification, data flow backup review, cross-border data flow and transaction risk assessment”. In February 2022, The Working Plan for Shenzhen to Explore and Implement Data Transaction was officially adopted. According to the plan, by the end of 2022, Shenzhen would initially form a new-type data transaction system and framework. By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Shenzhen will basically establish a global data transaction market hub, develop five wellknown cross-border data providers, and cultivate more than 100 small and medium data providers with technological advantages and characteristic applications. By April 2022, Shenzhen Data Transaction Co., Ltd. had a total of 70 first-group data providers, with 215 first-group data transactions registered and recorded. Specifically, the number of local data providers in Shenzhen ranks the 1st (with a total of 21), accounting for 42%, and the proportion of data providers in Beijing and Shanghai reaches 30% and 8% respectively. There are 70 members of “2022 data factor ecosystem” plan for data transaction in Shenzhen, including 54 enterprises outside Shenzhen (accounting for 77%). Cross-border data transaction business has a promising prospect. In May 2022, after several rounds of negotiation, the data products produced by ChinaScope Limited successfully concluded transactions with overseas well-known leading hedge funds, and the first group of cross-border data transaction businesses in China were carried out in Shenzhen. In April 2022, Beijing Data Hosting Service Platform developed by Beijing International Data Exchange was officially put into use, becoming the first data hosting service platform in China that can support cross-border flow of corporate data. Now, Beijing Data Hosting Service Platform has completed the first pilot. Beijing International Data Exchange has officially signed a service agreement with a transnational corporation to store and desensitize its domestically generated data. In April 2022, Hainan announced The Plan for Legislative Work of Hainan Provincial People’s Government, including Hainan Free Trade Port Network and Data Security Regulation. The regulation draws on relevant laws and regulations both inside and outside Hainan Province, and actively explores the “flow of data in a secure and orderly way”. It serves as not only a relatively comprehensive regulation that covers the rights and responsibilities of network security and network data security at the national level, but also a relevant regulation that combines the reality of Hainan Free Trade Port and connects network and data security. In line with the characteristics of Hainan Free Trade Port, it makes comprehensive rules for network and data security in the territory of Hainan Free Trade Port, and provides strong support for cross-border data flow.

3.4 Digital Industrialization Develops Sustainably and Stably

61

3.4 Digital Industrialization Develops Sustainably and Stably Over the past year, the production and investment in electronic information manufacturing industry maintained rapid growth, and the products and segment sectors realized stable growth. Software and IT service industry operated well, and industrial scale and revenue grew stably. Hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the export growth of software and IT service decelerated or declined. Internet and related service industries developed steadily.

3.4.1 Electronic Information Manufacturing Industry Grows Sustainably and Steadily In China, electronic information manufacturing industry maintains rapid growth and plays a significant role in driving industrial growth. From January to June 2022, the growth rate of production and investment in electronic information manufacturing industry took the lead. The added value of electronic information manufacturing industry above designated size increased by 10.2% year on year, 6.8 and 0.6% higher than the growth rates of industrial added value and high-tech manufacturing added value in the corresponding period. Business revenue reached 7019.9 billion yuan, up 7.7% year on year, yet business cost increased by 8.7% year on year. As a result, the total profit decreased by 6.6% year on year, and overall business profit margin reached 4.6%. Investment in fixed assets increased by 19.9% year on year, 8.9% higher than the growth rate of national industrial investment in the corresponding period. Owing to high growth base in 2021, as well as negative factors such as industrial shutdown, port outage, and failure to deliver some export orders on time caused by the COVID19 pandemic, the growth rate of export delivery value declined, with a year-on-year growth of 7.3%. However, the growth rate in June 2022 increased by 0.9% vis-à-vis the past five months, and the growth rate of export delivery value recovered steadily. Figure 3.1 shows the cumulative year-on-year growth rate of added value of electronic information manufacturing industry from 2021 to June 2022. In terms of fields, the outputs of microcomputer equipment, mobile phones, integrated circuits and other products start to decline. From January to June 2022, the output of microcomputer equipment realized 212 million, down 5% year on year. The output of mobile phones reached 744 million, down 2.7% year on year (smart phones, 576 million, down 1.8% year on year). The output of integrated circuits achieved 166.1 billion, down 6.3% year on year. In 2022, the main reason for the decline of output in various fields was that the output in various fields increased significantly in 2021. In 2021, the output of microcomputer equipment reached 470 million, with a year-on-year increase of 22.3%, up 9.6% over 2020. The output of electronic computers reached 490 million, up 22%

62

3 The Development of Digital Economy

Fig. 3.1 The cumulative year-on-year growth rate of added value of electronic information manufacturing industry from 2021 to June 2022. Data source Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

over 2020. The output of integrated circuits reached 359.43 billion, with a year-onyear increase of 33.3%, up 17.1% over 2020. New-type smart consumer terminal products quickly mature, whilst the growth rate of mobile phone production slows down. In 2021, the output of mobile phones realized 1.76 billion. The market share of smart phones continues to expand. In 2021, the output of smart phones reached 1.27 billion, up 9% year on year, and the shipment of smart phones reached 343 million, up 15.9% year on year, accounting for 97.7% of the shipment of mobile phones in the corresponding period. 5G mobile phones become the standard equipment in new model market, and the recognition of medium and high-end models continuously increases. In 2021, in China, the shipment of 5G mobile phones reached 266 million, up 63% year on year, accounting for 75.9% of the shipment of mobile phones in the corresponding period, much higher than global average level (40.7%). In particular, the sales of 5G mobile phones above 2000 yuan accounted for more than 90%. In China, server market grows robustly. As IDC’s data suggested, in 2021, the sales of China’s server market kept rising, reaching 25.09 billion U.S. dollars, up 12.7% year on year, accounting for more than 25% of global market. The shipment of server market reached 3.911 million, up 8.4% year on year. Noticeably, Inspur’s server ranks the 1st in Chinese market with a market share of 31.4%.1

1

Data Source: Worldwide Server Market Tracker 2021 published by IDC.

3.4 Digital Industrialization Develops Sustainably and Stably

63

3.4.2 Software and IT Service Industry Operates Stably In China, software and IT service industry operates well. Industrial scale and benefit comprehensively improve, and the revenue of software business maintains rapid growth. The profit and export realize stable growth, the scale of employees enlarges, and the gross salary continually grows. In 2021, there were more than 40,000 enterprises above designated size in software and IT service industry, with a cumulative software business income of 9499.4 billion yuan, up 17.7% year on year. The profit of the whole industry totaled 1187.5 billion yuan, up 7.6% year on year. The export reached 52.1 billion U.S. dollars, up 8.8% year on year. The average number of employees reached 8.09 million, up 7.4% year on year. The gross salary increased by 15% year on year, up c. 8% over 2020.2 From January to June 2022, software and IT service industry operated stably. Business revenue maintained a growth rate of more than 10%. Software business revenue reached 4626.6 billion yuan, up 10.9% year on year. Specifically, the revenue of software product reached 1142.7 billion yuan, up 10.2% year on year, accounting for 24.7% of industrial revenue. The revenue of IT service reached 3029.6 billion yuan, up 12% year on year, accounting for 65.5% of industrial revenue. Particularly, cloud computing and big data services accelerated, with a total revenue of 479 billion yuan, up 9.3% year on year, accounting for 15.8% of IT service revenue. The revenue of technological service of e-commerce platforms realized 449.9 billion yuan, up 16.9% year on year. The revenue of integrated circuit design reached 127.9 billion yuan, up 15.2% year on year. The revenue of information security products and services totaled 75.5 billion yuan, up 11.4% year on year, maintaining rapid growth. The revenue of embedded system software achieved 378.8 billion yuan, up 5.0% year on year, with a slight increase. Figure 3.2 shows the proportion of the revenue of various sectors of software and IT service industry from January to June 2022. From January to June 2022, in China, software and IT service industry realized a total profit of 489.1 billion yuan, up 7.3% year on year, 5.4% higher than the growth rate from January to May. The export of software business rebounded slightly, reaching 25.6 billion U.S. dollars, up 4% year on year, 1.3% higher than the growth rate from January to May. Notably, the export of software outsourcing service increased by 9.3% year on year. Figure 3.3 shows the revenue, total profit and export growth of software and IT service industry from 2021 to June 2022.

3.4.3 Internet and Related Service Industries Develop Well In China, the revenue of Internet and related service industries maintains positive growth, and the drop in total profit further narrows. From January to June 2022, Internet enterprises above designated size and related service enterprises completed 2

Data Source: Statistical Bulletin of Software & Information Technology Service Industry in 2021 published by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

64

3 The Development of Digital Economy

Fig. 3.2 The proportion of the revenue of various sectors of software and IT service industry from January to June 2022. Data source Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

Fig. 3.3 The revenue, total profit and export growth of software and IT service industry from 2021 to June 2022. Data source Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

a revenue of 717 billion yuan in Internet business, up 0.1% year on year. The business costs of Internet enterprises increased by 5.4% year on year, with a decrease of 0.3% compared with the past five months. The total profit achieved 64.54 billion yuan, with a decrease of 6.2% year on year, 8.6% lower than the past five months in the drop range. Enterprises invested 38.87 billion yuan in research and development, up 6.4% year on year, and the growth rate fell 2.7% compared with the past five months. In terms of regional development, from January to June 2022, the growth of the revenue of Internet business in the eastern region slowed down, reaching 654.4 billion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 1.7%, accounting for 91.3% of national Internet business revenue. The revenue of Internet business in the central region realized 24.59 billion yuan, down by 13.0% year on year. The revenue of Internet business in the western region achieved 35.06 billion yuan, down 17.2% year on year. The revenue of Internet business in the northeastern region reached 2.96 billion

3.4 Digital Industrialization Develops Sustainably and Stably

65

Fig. 3.4 The cumulative growth rate of internet business revenue in 2021 and from January to June 2022. Data source Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

yuan, up 26.4% year on year, 26.3% higher than the overall growth rate of the whole industry. Figure 3.4 shows the cumulative growth rate of Internet business revenue in 2021 and from January to June 2022. The growth rate of business revenue of news and content service enterprises increases. News media enhance the communication effect by entering social and information platforms like bilibili and Weibo. Simultaneously, the realization of digital virtual applications and the upgrading of livestreaming technologies further improve users’ experience and raise their recognition of relevant issues. By June 2022, in China, the number of online news users reached 788.07 million, with an increase of 16.98 million over December 2021, accounting for 75% of the total number of Internet users,3 as shown in Fig. 3.5. Online videos produce excellent content, and mainstream values play a leading role. In terms of business technologies, the exploration and application of new businesses and technologies accelerate. Innovation-driven business forms and technological applications like “cloud business” and “3D reality” continue to develop. Meanwhile, spurred by short video users, the scale of online video users further enlarges, yet the growth rate slows down. By June 2022, in China, the number of online video users reached 994.86 million, with an increase of 20.17 million over December 2021, accounting for 94.6% of the total number of Internet users, as shown 3

Data Source: The 50th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC.

66

3 The Development of Digital Economy

Fig. 3.5 The user scale and utilization rate of online news in different time periods from 2017 to June 2022. Data source The 50th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC

Fig. 3.6 The user scale and utilization rate of online videos in different time periods from 2018 to June 2022. Data source The 50th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC

in Fig. 3.6. Among them, the number of short video users reached 962 million, with an increase of 25.08 million over December 2021, accounting for 90.5% of the total number of Internet users.4 Online game industry develops sustainably, and overseas business expands steadily. By June 2022, in China, the number of online game users realized 552.39 4

Data Source: The 50th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC.

3.4 Digital Industrialization Develops Sustainably and Stably

67

Fig. 3.7 The user scale and utilization rate of online games in different time periods from 2017 to June 2022. Data source The 50th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC

million, accounting for 52.6% of the total number of Internet users,5 as shown in Fig. 3.7. Online game manufacturers actively explore overseas revenue channels. According to Mobile Game Report in the Third Quarter of 2021 released by App Annie, three mobile games developed by Chinese online game manufacturers rank top ten in the global mobile game best-selling list. In order to protect the healthy growth of the minors, national competent departments strengthen the governance of online game industry and promote the standardized development of the industry. In June 2021, newly-revised Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of the Minors added a special chapter “Internet Protection” to further clarify and standardize Internet products and services for the minors. Afterwards, policies and documents on strengthening the crackdown on minors’ addiction to online games are successively released, which tighten the grip on time management and control of online games for the minors.

3.4.4 The Ecology of Internet Industry is Sustainably Optimized According to The Operation of China’s Internet Listed Companies in the First Quarter of 2022 published by China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), by March 2022, there were 192 Internet listed companies in China and abroad, with an increase of 30.6% over December 2020. In the fourth 5

Data Source: The 50th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC.

68

3 The Development of Digital Economy

quarter of 2021, China’s Internet listed enterprises achieved a total business revenue of 986.3 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth rate of 12.9%, down 8.3% over the corresponding period in 2020. Among them, the total business revenue of ecommerce, social and online communities, games and other fields accounted for 84%. The fields of healthcare and ITFIN achieved rapid growth, with year-on-year growth rates of 39.1% and 57.9% respectively. The business revenue of top ten Internet enterprises accounted for 88.7%, with a growth rate of 14.7%, higher than the growth rate of the total business revenue of Internet listed enterprises. In terms of regional distribution, by December 2021, the number of Internet listed enterprises registered in Beijing was the largest, accounting for 34.2% of the total number of Internet listed enterprises in China and abroad, followed by Shanghai (20.6%), Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Guangzhou. According to The 49th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC, by December 2021, the number of Internet unicorn enterprises in China had risen to 219, with an increase of 12 vis-à-vis December 2020. More than 90% of Internet unicorn enterprises are registered in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu. To be specific, there are 84 in Beijing, 45 in Shanghai and 41 in Guangdong. In terms of industrial or business distribution, more than 60% of Internet unicorn enterprises engage in five industries, i.e. corporate business (17.8%), e-commerce (11.9%), automobile transportation (11.9%), advanced manufacturing (10.5%) and healthcare (9.6%), as shown in Fig. 3.8. Simultaneously, Chinese Internet content service enterprises actively expand their overseas businesses, with a large number of start-ups, a large scale and rapid growth. The exported products are regularized in type. Noteworthily, the products in emerging fields like short videos perform well in overseas market.

Fig. 3.8 The distribution of China’s internet unicorn enterprises by December 2021. Data source The 49th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC

3.5 Industrial Digitalization Continues to Deepen

69

3.5 Industrial Digitalization Continues to Deepen Internet, big data, AI and real economy are further integrated and developed. The use cases quickly enlarge, the digital transformation of economy and society continuously accelerates, and the main engine effect of industrial digitalization on the growth of digital economy becomes more prominent.

3.5.1 The Construction of Digital Agriculture Efficiently Progresses The digital transformation of agriculture continually advances. The digitalization and productivity of agriculture continuously improve. Digital technologies are applied to modern agricultural production, which raises the standardization of agricultural products, empowers agricultural segmented industries, and continuously enhances the economic development of rural areas. Supported by national key R&D projects, various regions accelerate the research and development of basic cutting-edge technologies as well as major common key technologies, expand the application and demonstration of these technologies, deepen the integration of agricultural and rural construction and digital development, attract and cultivate a large number of outstanding agricultural technological talents, initially form digital “industryuniversity-research” teams in the agricultural field, and constantly consolidate the capabilities of agricultural-technology innovation and digital transformation. According to the statistics of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in 2021, the contribution rate of agricultural science and technology reached 61%, with science and technology becoming the most important driving force of agricultural and rural economic growth. For example, Feicheng, Shandong Province, realizes the wholeindustrial-chain integrated operation model of the planting, sorting, logistics and sales of Feicheng peach by creating a new intelligent management platform of Feicheng peach industry. In one mu of orchard, this saves 30% of water, fertilizer, pesticide and other costs, reduces more than 300 yuan of labor costs, and achieves more than 50% of comprehensive cost savings and efficiency gains. New business forms of rural digital economy develop swiftly. Traditional agricultural products are fully integrated with e-commerce, livestreaming and other Internet applications. Farmers and businesses use short videos, livestreaming and other means to promote and introduce high-quality agricultural products, which not only broadens the sales channels of agricultural products, but also facilitates agricultural products’ entry to cities. From January to October 2021, on Kuaishou, more than 420 million agricultural product orders were sent from rural areas to various regions of China with the help of livestreaming e-commerce, with the sales and orders of agricultural products increasing by 88% and 99% respectively over the corresponding period in 2020. Besides, rural entrepreneurs use Internet digital platforms like short videos as one of the channels for professional learning and training, and jointly promote

70

3 The Development of Digital Economy

the sustainable development of new sales models and business models of agricultural products by uploading and sharing videos. According to the data of Ministry of Commerce, in 2021, rural online retail sales in China reached 2.05 trillion yuan, with an increase of 14.5% over 2020, and online retail sales of agricultural products in China reached 422.1 billion yuan, with an increase of 2.8% over 2020. The pilot construction of agricultural informatization continues to deepen. Presently, there are 117 digital village pilot areas in China. Pilot areas actively explore the digital transformation of agricultural production and operation, expand the sales channels of agricultural products with local characteristic resources, empower the construction of digital villages with advantageous industries, build digital platforms for rural governance with geographic information systems and big data technology, integrate and collect agricultural data, monitor rural production and life and agricultural ecology in real time, and provide digital conditions for achieving precise rural autonomy. Additionally, China has built nine agricultural IoT demonstration provinces and 100 digital agriculture pilot projects, identified 316 national agricultural and rural informatization demonstration bases in four groups, supported the information-based transformation of nearly 120,000 sets of agricultural machinery, collected and promoted more than 400 agricultural IoT application achievements and models, and completed the whole-industrial-chain big data construction pilot of six varieties including apple and soybean.

3.5.2 Industrial Digital Transformation Advances Steadily The integration of new-generation information technology and industry deepens. The digital application in the industrial field continuously expands. The level of manufacturing intelligence improves yearly. The application of industrial Internet extends from production-process control and equipment management to product R&D and design, manufacturing, process optimization, industrial chain and supply chain management and other links. By implementing the intelligent manufacturing project, in the first half of 2022, the number of incubated solution providers exceeded 6000, and the service scope covered more than 90% of manufacturing industry. The numerical control rate of key processes and the popularization rate of digital R&D and design tools of industrial enterprises above designated size reached 55.7% and 75.1% respectively. The digital transformation and upgrading of traditional industries further accelerates, and the digital transformation of backbone industrial enterprises achieves remarkable results. Take Zhengzhou Haier Water Heater Interconnection Factory as an example. From 2020 to 2021, the order response speed of the factory increased by 25%, production efficiency rose by 31%, and product quality improved by 26%. In this way, the factory realized high-precision, zero-defect, end-to-end interconnection of intelligent manufacturing and the whole process. The application of industrial Internet continues to deepen. In China, industrial Internet basically establishes six typical integrated application models, i.e.

3.5 Industrial Digitalization Continues to Deepen

71

digital research and development, intelligent manufacturing, networked collaboration, customization, service-oriented extension and lean management. Fully integrated into 45 major categories of national economy, industrial Internet plays a more prominent role in industrial empowerment, valuation and intelligence. The application level of “5G + industrial Internet” remains in the van in the world, and use cases and key industrial practices deepen. By June 2022, more than 3100 “5G + industrial Internet” projects were under construction in China. Ministry of Industry and Information Technology launched 123 industrial Internet pilot demonstration projects and four industrial demonstration bases, so as to build new benchmarks for industrial Internet application models at the workshop, enterprise and cluster levels nationwide and constantly expand and strengthen leading industrial chain of industrial Internet. The integration of industrial Internet and electronic equipment manufacturing actualizes the application of flexible production and manufacturing, effectively raises the production capacity, and improves assembly efficiency and inspection efficiency via on-site auxiliary assembly and machine-vision quality inspection. Meanwhile, the application of 5G technology to equipment manufacturing industry, steel industry, mining industry, power industry and other fields continuously enhances production capacity, assembly efficiency and fault detection accuracy, reduces monitoring and operation costs and accident rate, improves safe production capacity, and effectively promotes the digital transformation of industrial enterprises.

3.5.3 The Digital Transformation of Service Industry Quickens E-commerce industry comes to the stage of high-quality development. According to The 50th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC, by June 2022, in China, the number of online shopping users reached 841 million, accounting for 80.0% of the total number of Internet users. As a new typical business form of digital economy, online retail industry in China develops rapidly. As the data of National Bureau of Statistics suggested, in 2021, online retail sales in China realized 13.1 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 14.1%. Specifically, online retail sales of physical goods reached 10.8 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 12%, accounting for 24.5% of the total retail sales of social consumer goods, and contributing 23.6% to the growth of the total retail sales of social consumer goods. New e-commerce models, e.g. livestreaming e-commerce and social e-commerce, spring up. According to the monitoring data of Ministry of Commerce, in 2021, key monitoring e-commerce platforms totally carried out livestreaming more than 24 million times, which covered more than 50 million products. The number of active anchors exceeded 550,000, and the cumulative number of viewers exceeded 120 billion. Besides, the rapid development of cross-border e-commerce provides support for the development of foreign trade in China. In 2021, the import and export

72

3 The Development of Digital Economy

scale of China’s cross-border e-commerce achieved 1.98 trillion yuan, up 15% year on year. The digital transformation and application of financial industry speed up. In China, electronic payment, especially mobile payment, develops rapidly. Mobile payment penetrates various fields of people’s livelihood (e.g. transportation, catering and shopping) and provides the public with safe, efficient and convenient “one-touch click” payment experience. Currently, more than 200 payment institutions nationwide have served around one billion customers and tens of millions of businesses, playing a complementary role in the field of small amount retail payment services. In 2021, the amount of mobile payment increased by c. 25% year on year, and the penetration rate reached 86%. Payment and transfer can be received in real time. Simultaneously, the promotion and application of e-CNY are further accelerated. According to the data of the People’s Bank of China, e-CNY has been piloted in 23 regions. By the end of 2021, the number of e-CNY pilot scenes exceeded 8.0851 million, and the transaction amount reached 87.565 billion yuan, with 261 million personal wallets opened. In Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the pilot scene of e-CNY scored a great success. As an important element of “technology-empowered Olympics”, e-CNY showcased China’s financial and technological achievements. In Beijing Winter Olympics, the pilot scene of e-CNY covered seven major aspects, including transportation, catering and accommodation, shopping and consumption and tourism and sightseeing. Innovative use cases like unmanned vending vehicles and self-service vending machines were deployed, and wearable payment devices like payment gloves and payment badges were introduced, providing safe and convenient payment experience for users at home and abroad. The digital transformation of transportation and logistics industry quickens. Intelligent transportation continues to develop and helps to alleviate traffic congestion. According to the data of Ministry of Transport, by October 2021, the utilization rate of electronic toll collection (ETC) systems for national expressways exceeded 65.98%, the utilization rate of ETC systems for passenger cars exceeded 70%, and the utilization rate of ETC systems for freight cars exceeded 53%. With the rapid popularization of ETC systems, the traffic efficiency of China’s expressway further improves, road travel becomes more convenient, the demand for logistics grows firmly, and the scale of smart logistics market keeps rising. According to the data of China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing,6 in 2016, the market scale of logistics data, logistics cloud and logistics technology services exceeded 200 billion yuan, which exceeded 500 billion yuan in 2020. Predictably, in 2025, the market scale of smart logistics services in China will exceed one trillion yuan, which can save logistics costs by more than one trillion yuan each year. The market of life service industry maintains high-speed development. The scale of online takeout market continuously expands. By December 2021, in China, the number of online takeout users reached 544 million, with an increase of more than 125 million over 2020, with a year-on-year growth rate of 29.9%, accounting for 6

Data Source: Application Prospects of China Smart Logistics 2025 published by JD Logistics and China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.

3.6 The Coordinated Digital and Green Development Continuously Advances

73

52.7% of the total number of Internet users. In the third quarter of 2021, the transaction amount of Meituan’s take-out business increased by 29.5% year on year, and the average number of daily transactions grew by 24.9% year on year. The profits and business profit margins climbed steadily. The number of orders of Eleme increased by more than 30%. In July 2021, TikTok launched the beta version of Xindong Waimai to further promote full competition in takeaway market. The competition in online car-hailing industry heats up. By the end of 2021, in China, the number of online car-hailing users reached 453 million, with an increase of 87.33 million over December 2020, accounting for 43.9% of the total number of Internet users. The investment in online car-hailing industry surges, new-round financing fever emerges, and industrial competition among enterprises intensifies. Cao Cao Travel and Hello Travel announce the completion of financing with hundreds-of-millions yuan respectively. Meituan Taxi continues to be launched in major mainstream app stores, with its services available in more than 100 cities. AMap establishes an online car-hailing operation company and registers “Huojian Travel”, an online car-hailing business brand.

3.6 The Coordinated Digital and Green Development Continuously Advances The coordinated digital and green development means an intrinsic path for highquality development of economy and society in China. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council issue The Working Guidance for Carbon Dioxide Peaking and Carbon Neutrality in Full and Faithful Implementation of New Development Philosophy, which urges to promote the deep integration of emerging technologies such as Internet, big data, AI and 5G with green and low-carbon industries. The Plan for National Information Technology During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period proposes to “deeply boost the construction of green and intelligent ecological civilization and foster the coordinated digital and green development”, and to “lead green development with digital development and drive digital development with green development”. Over the past year, China accelerated the process of digital and green development of traditional industries and the pace of green transformation in the field of information communication technology like information infrastructure. Since September 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, together with relevant departments, has organized and implemented the “Action Plan for the Coordinated Digital and Green Transformation and Development”, and deployed a number of key actions to help achieve carbon dioxide peaking and carbon neutrality, by focusing on three aspects: promoting green and low-carbon digital industry, accelerating digital technology-empowered green transformation and giving play to the role of green transformation in digital industry. This provides robust support for building digital China and beautiful China.

74

3 The Development of Digital Economy

3.6.1 The Green Development of New-Type Information Infrastructure Accelerates Since 2021, China has successively released The Three-Year Action Plan (2021– 2023) for the Development of New-Type Data Centers and The Execution Plan for Implementing the Goals of Carbon Dioxide Peaking and Carbon Neutrality and Promoting Green and High-Quality Development of New-Type Information Infrastructure Such as Data Centers and 5G, to guide and constrain energy conservation and carbon reduction of data centers and 5G base stations. Additionally, China has issued The Implementation Plan for Computing Hubs of National Integrated Big Data Center Collaborative Innovation System, which requires to quicken the implementation of “Channeling Computing Resources from the East to the West” Project. Energy consumption indicators are clarified. The average operation rate of set-up data centers should not be less than 65%, the power utilization efficiency index of data centers should be controlled within 1.25, and the utilization rate of renewable energy should be significantly improved. Six departments, including Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly build national green data centers and successively establish 153 national green data centers in three groups, which cover communication, Internet, energy, finance and other fields. Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and other regions introduce policies to promote the green and low-carbon development of regional data centers. Network communication enterprises, including basic telecom operators, also actively promote green development. To address the problem of 5G high-energy consumption, China Mobile adopts new materials and architectures to reduce basic power consumption, and develops the functions of self-adaptive service like shutdown and sleep to lower operating power consumption, which cuts down the energy consumption of 5G base stations by 30%. By October 2021, China Telecom and China Unicom had jointly built and shared more than 600,000 5G base stations, which accounted for more than 40% of the total number of 5G base stations built in the world, and totally saved more than ten billion kWh of electricity and reduced carbon emission by six million tons. Alibaba furthers low-carbon development in data centers and other fields. The average value of power use efficiency (PUE) of its domestic self-operated data centers drops to 1.3. Alibaba purchases more than 280 million kWh of renewable energy, and reduces carbon emission by 300,000 tons. Baidu Cloud Computing (Yangquan) Center applies “direct supply of municipal power + HVDC” (high voltage direct current) transmission technology and selfdeveloped zero-power rooftop cooling unit and AI optimization technology, with an average annual PUE of 1.08. CENTRIN DATA Kunshan No.1 Data Center adopts energy-conservation technology and purchases clean energy to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, with a carbon utilization rate (CUE) of 0.49 in its data center.

3.6 The Coordinated Digital and Green Development Continuously Advances

75

3.6.2 The Green Development of Electronic Industry Continuously Progresses Confronted with the increasing pressure of sustainable development and carbon emission, electronic industry enterprises meet national requirement or deployment of comprehensively implementing green manufacturing and accelerate the construction of green manufacturing systems. On this basis, they launch a series of development plans and standards for green and low-carbon transformation of electronic information manufacturing industry, under the unified framework of Industrial Green Development Plan 2016–202 and Implementation Guide for Green Manufacturing Engineering 2016–2020. For example, Management Standards for Green Supply Chain of Electronic Information Manufacturing Industry 2021 further amplifies the responsibilities of green development in manufacturing industry, integrates the ideas of sustainable development like green manufacturing, product lifecycle and producerresponsibility extension into corporate value chain activities from the perspective of supply chain, guides and regulates energy conservation and emission reduction of electronic information manufacturing enterprises, and establishes a systematic, scientific and effective green supply chain management system, so as to promote green transformation and sustainable development of electronic information manufacturing industry in the entire industrial chain. In June 2022, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other five departments jointly issued The Action Plan for Improving Industrial Energy Efficiency, which proposed to promote energy conservation, efficiency improvement, transformation and upgrading of electronic industry and other industries, explore the integrated innovation and application of “industrial Internet + efficiency management”, and accelerate technological progress and integrated development of energy electronic industry. Some backbone electronic industrial enterprises actively practice green development. For example, in 2021, China Mobile started “China Mobile Carbon Dioxide Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Action Plan”. As relevant data suggested, in 2021, the total comprehensive energy consumption of China Mobile’s unit telecom business diminished by 22% year on year. China Mobile saved 4.35 billion kWh of electricity. In 2021, eight data centers were listed in National Green Data Centers (totally 20 listed data centers). For eight consecutive years, China Mobile disclosed its environmental information via CDP Global Environmental Information Research Center and became the only Chinese mainland enterprise to be included in “CDP Annual Top A List for Climate Change Response”. In January 2022, Haier Group further clarified the development direction of carbon dioxide peaking and carbon neutrality. In the next three years, it will establish a special industrial fund with a total amount of 40 billion yuan and invest 60 billion yuan in research and development funds, which aim at the technological field of “green carbon dioxide peaking and carbon neutrality”.

76

3 The Development of Digital Economy

3.6.3 Digital Technology Expedites Green Industrial Development The digital and green development of key energy-consumption industries in the industrial field continues to advance. In 2021, China successively released relevant policies, such as Several Opinions on Strict Energy Efficiency Constraints to Promote Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction in Key Fields, The Plan for Green Industrial Development During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period and The Action Plan for Industrial Energy Efficiency Improvement. Simultaneously, relevant industrial enterprises and local governments actively quicken green and low-carbon transformation of digital technology-empowered industries. According to the data of China Iron and Steel Association, the energy consumption of advanced processes like “one-touch steel-making + full-automatic steel-tapping” intelligent steel-making in iron and steel industry has reached the leading level in the world. The comprehensive energy consumption per-ton steel in key statistics of iron and steel enterprises dropped from 602.7 kgce/t in 2012 to 549.2 kgce/t in 2021, with a decline rate of 8.9%. China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation Zhenhai Refining and Chemical Company develops cracking-depth control and real-time optimization software for cracking furnace, which can automatically calculate the optimal value and automatically perform adjustment. With the total feeding load of the unit unchanged, more than 7190 tons of standard coal can be saved in terms of annual energy conservation. The analysis of big data can adjust and optimize the coking process, and a single cracking furnace can save about 98 tons of standard coal for one coking. Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology and other departments jointly release The Action Plan for Realizing the Goal of 1% in Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction in Shanghai Industries and Communications 2022–2025, which proposes to deepen energy conservation-oriented transformation by implementing green upgrading and transformation of processes in key industries, improving energy efficiency of key energy-consumption systems, boosting digital transformation of key energy-consumption enterprises, and promoting low-carbon transformation of new key information infrastructure. By May 2022, China had constructed 2783 green factories, 223 green industrial parks and 296 green supply chain enterprises, promoted more than 20,000 green products and more than 2000 energy-conservation technologies and equipment products, created green models and led green industrial development. In recent years, China has vigorously augmented the research, development, promotion and application of new-generation information technology in the field of transportation, and continuously reduced energy consumption and carbon emission intensity in transportation. Various regions accelerate digital development of transportation industry and improve the level of green development sustainably. Anhui Province integrates industrial information platform resources in a coordinated way, quickens the construction of “comprehensive traffic operation monitoring and coordination command platform” and “smart traffic big data center”, and promotes the construction of management information systems for the control of overspeed jointly

3.6 The Coordinated Digital and Green Development Continuously Advances

77

built by ministry and province. Beijing launches the construction of integrated transportation and green travel service (MaaS) platform 2.0 to provide citizens with the whole-process intelligent decision-making before travel, whole-process guidance during travel and green incentives after travel, as well as one-stop “door-to-door” intelligent travel guidance and whole-process planning services for inter-city travel. National ministries and commissions, as well as governments and enterprises at various levels, voluntarily stress and promote the integration and application of new technologies in the construction field, and improve the level of green construction. In January 2021, Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development issued The Letter on Carrying out Green Construction Pilot Work, deciding to pilot green construction in Hunan Province, Shenzhen (Guangdong Province) and Changzhou (Jiangsu Province). In March 2021, Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development released Technological Guidelines for Green Construction (For Trial Implementation), which proposed that green construction should consider practical needs, effectively use building information model (BIM), IoT, big data, cloud computing, mobile communication, blockchain, AI, robot and other related technologies, and improve overall level of information-based construction means. 21 green construction indexes of passenger terminal and parking building project of Beijing Daxing International Airport, including integrated digital design and construction of large-span shaped free-form surface, the construction of photovoltaic power generation system on the roof, and the construction of OneID “one-face pass” system, have reached national or international advanced level. The annual carbon dioxide emission reduction realizes 36,000 tons, and the carbon emission reduction intensity reaches 30%. It is the first building with 3A energy-conservation certification in China. As required in The Regulations on the Development of Green Buildings in Hunan Province, provincial people’s government shall establish and improve an intelligent construction platform for the whole industrial chain of prefabricated buildings, realize the deep integration of new-type building industrialization and high-end manufacturing, and promote the application of intelligent construction in various chains of green building construction. People’s governments at or above the county level shall promote the application of the whole-industrial-chain intelligent construction platforms for prefabricated buildings. The informatization of ecological environment accelerates. Ministry of Ecology and Environment focuses on regions, cities and key industries and carries out carbon monitoring and assessment pilot projects. Meanwhile, by dint of the national “threeprinciple and one-list” achievement data sharing system, Ministry of Ecology and Environment strengthens the sharing of achievements, gives play to the role of “three-principle and one-list” ecological environment zoning control in promoting high-quality development and high-level protection (i.e. bottom line constraint and decision-making support), and continuously improves the efficiency of ecological environment governance. “One Chart” of information platform for comprehensive ecological environment management is continuously optimized, and the level of comprehensive monitoring, analysis, response and governance of national ecological environment is systematically improved. 11 pilot regions, including Beijing, Fujian, Shandong, Henan and Guangxi, accelerate the construction of ecological

78

3 The Development of Digital Economy

environment “Internet + supervision” system. The data of the third national land survey, land space planning, real estate registration, natural resources assets and natural geographical pattern are quickly collected, forming a data system with more than 5000 layers and more than 11 billion elements across the country. 3D “One Chart” of natural resources and basic information platform of land space are basically established, which realize the functions of digital approval and supervision of natural resources. The governance and application efficiency of meteorological big data improves significantly. “Tianqing” 1.0, a meteorological big data cloud platform, is basically established. It collects c. 1000 TB new meteorological data from 13 departments (e.g. ecological environment) and regions throughout the year, and plays a key supporting or guaranteeing role in disaster prevention and mitigation, emergency rescue, air pollution prevention and control and other related fields and major events. “One Chart” of water conservancy completes the data update of more than 600,000 water conservancy objects, forming a river and lake management data system that covers 800,000 river sections, 300,000 river heads above the township level and 600,000 village river heads. The information-extraction technology based on AI and remote sensing technology is fully applied to treat illegal river–lake occupation, construction, mining and waste. The comprehensive perception and monitoring capabilities of forest and grass are continuously optimized, with national forest and grass informationization rate reaching 81.74%.

3.7 New Business Forms and Models and New Technologies of Digital Economy Continue to Emerge The development of digital technology catalyzes many new business forms and models and vitalizes the growth of digital economy. Digital collection signals a new direction for the development of cultural relics, rural cultural tourism and other businesses. The development of new individual economy optimizes the dissemination of diverse values and the form of innovation. Individual potential for innovation and business is aroused. The rapid development of community group purchasing sustainably meets people’s living needs.

3.7.1 New Technologies and Applications Closely Follow the Trends Innovations in new technologies, applications and fields emerge constantly. Information technology and biotechnology are integrated, and new achievements are made in cutting-edge research, such as DNA storage, brain-inspired computing and brain computer interface. Blockchain technology generally remains stable and turns to reality in some fields. Metaverse becomes a new hot field in industrial development,

3.7 New Business Forms and Models and New Technologies of Digital …

79

and related technologies probably break the boundary between virtualization and reality, and become an important direction for the development of Internet in the future. The Plan for Bioeconomy Development During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period clarifies the development direction for accelerating the cultivation and development of bioeconomy, strengthening the protection and utilization of biological resources, and improving the system of biosecurity policies. The plan proposes to deepen the integration of biotechnology and information technology and boost the high-quality development of bioeconomy. In the past year, in terms of DNA storage, Chinese information was stored in DNA sequences. In terms of brain-inspired computing, Chinese scholars put forward a three-level system architecture (i.e. software, hardware and compiler), as well as software abstract model with Turing Completeness and general abstract neuromorphic structure. In terms of brain computer interface, the animal experiment of invasive brain-computer interface was successfully completed. The technological architecture of blockchain tends to be stable. Centering on practical needs in the case of industrial blockchain, relevant technologies continuously evolve towards “efficiency, security and convenience”. Newly-launched blockchain transmission network (BTN) enormously improves the throughput of blockchain network and reduces bandwidth cost and delay at the same time. The performance of Dumbo BFT, an asynchronous parallel algorithm, surpasses Honey Badger BFT, which is widely used in the existing industry. Relevant domestic enterprises launch 336 blockchain applications to explore the realization of blockchain technology by developing use cases of high adaptability. Blockchain projects are mostly implemented in government service and finance. The research on blockchain projects in the fields of jurisdiction, people’s livelihood, industry, agriculture and transportation also remains active. The idea of metaverse came to rise one year ago. The fad for it remains unbated. The governments of Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Wuxi and other cities step up efforts to deploy metaverse industry and intensively lay down relevant policy and planning documents in relation to metaverse and VR. With technological chains of Internet environment, underlying computing, visual interaction and content creation further clarified, audio-visual technology develops rapidly. The shipments of ByteDance’s Pico VR, HTC’s VIVE and iQIYI’s Qiyu VR equipment ranked top five in global VR head-mounted display equipment market in 2021. Huawei’s Cyberverse and Baidu’s Xirang mirror the positive exploration of relevant applications of metaverse.

3.7.2 Digital Collection Drives the Trend of Online Cultural Services Digital collection refers to the use of blockchain technology to generate unique digital credentials for specific works or artworks, so as to realize authentic digital

80

3 The Development of Digital Economy

distribution, purchase, collection and use on the basis of protecting their digital copyrights. Presently, major Internet giants, including Ant Group, Tencent and JD, all have developed relevant platforms to engage in the business related to digital collections. Ant Group launches Topnod platform, whose Dunhuang Feitian Series boast widelyrecognized products in digital collection industry in China. “Treasure Project” staged by Ant Group provides digital collection services for nearly 20 cultural and museum institutions such as the Palace Museum, National Museum of China and Hubei Provincial Museum. Tencent launches Huanhe platform, on which the digital collection of Chinese Naval Ship Shandong was exhibited in March 2022. Digital technology is used to record the sailing and ship-building of the first domestic aircraft carrier. JD introduces Lingxi platform to provide blockchain technology services for information storage and unique identification of digital collections. The first-group non-fungible token (NFT) based on the design prototype of JD’s mascot “Joy” have been officially sold. In March 2022, Alibaba Auction Platform jointly launched “Digital Villagers” business based on digital collection technology with several institutions, which shored up the development of rural culture and tourism.

3.7.3 New Individual Economy Stimulates Innovation and Business Potential The Plan for Development of the Digital Economy During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period proposes a cultivation project of new business forms in digital economy, demands the orderly guidance of new individual economy, supports the orderly development of diverse online social platforms and short video platforms, encourages micro-innovation, micro-product and other innovative models, advocates individuals to use new platforms like e-commerce, social software, knowledge sharing, audio– video website and makerspace for employment and entrepreneurship, and promotes flexible employment and sideline innovation. Now, the market or field of We Media content production has forged mature value chain. In particular, the rapid rise of multi-channel network (MCN) covers the whole process from conceptual development planning to content production, provides comprehensive and professional support for content producers, deeply taps commercial value in the field, and brings a surge of the number of employees. By December 2021, in China, the number of full-time workers engaged in We Media reached 3.7 million, and the number of part-time workers exceeded six million.7 With the aid of the development of Internet platform enterprises, delivery personnel for online orders, driver of online car-hailing and other occupations become important employment directions. China includes occupations like delivery 7

Data Source: Market Survey and Development Prospects Analysis Report of We Media Industry from 2020 to 2025 published by Zero Power Intelligence Industrial Research Institute.

3.7 New Business Forms and Models and New Technologies of Digital …

81

personnel for online orders in the national occupational classification directory, and issues National Occupational Skill Standard for Delivery Personnel for Online Orders. Delivery personnel for online orders can be categorized into five grades, which gives the groups a clearer career plan. In recent years, the market of online car-hailing expands, and the number of online car-hailing drivers enlarges. According to the data of the national online car-hailing supervision information interaction platform, by February 2022, 263 online car-hailing platforms nationwide had obtained business licenses, and a total of 4.053 million online car-hailing driver licenses had been issued. As the number of workers in new employment forms increases, relevant parties set the agenda on the construction of occupational guarantee. For example, in January 2022, Qingdao Federation of Trade Unions focused on new employment groups such as online car-hailing drivers and delivery personnel for online orders, and promoted the establishment of trade unions in new economic and social organizations to expand the scale and improve the quality. As planned, 120,000–180,000 new employment workers would join trade unions in 2022. In June 2022, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security announced 18 new occupations, including nine digital occupations related to data, i.e. robot engineering technicians, additive manufacturing engineering technicians, data security engineering technicians, digital solution designers, database operation administrators, information system adaptation verifiers, digital twin application technicians, business data analysts and agricultural digital technicians. Many new occupations in digital economy are identified, which tallies with current social demands for new business forms of digital economy.

3.7.4 Community Group Purchasing Re-emerges Against the Backdrop of the COVID-19 Pandemic In 2022, hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, community group purchasing became a popular business form again. As Shanghai WOW group purchasing platform predicts, there are about 130,000 guaranteed group heads and 650,000 improved group heads in Shanghai. These heads start business with the help of mobile phone apps and provide local residents with diverse material purchasing services. Community group purchasing connects e-commerce platforms with communities, and community group purchasing emerges again. Internet giants, such as JD, Alibaba, Meituan and Pinduoduo, set foot in the market of community group purchasing. Pinduoduo quickly launches the function of “community order collection” to provide residents with material purchasing and group organizing services. Meituan initiates the model of community group meal, providing more than 400,000 group meals to around 9000 communities. In the future, the model of community group purchasing will come to the stage of sustainable development and evolve into one of urban consumption habits. In the

82

3 The Development of Digital Economy

poll organized by Shanghai WOW group purchasing platform, 66% of the respondents stated they would shop in the form of community group purchasing after the COVID-19 pandemic. Some Internet giants continuously deepen the business of community group purchasing. For example, Freshippo maintains the model of “mobile supermarket” launched in the COVID-19 pandemic, and adds two services of community-group-purchasing storage and community outlet.

Chapter 4

The Construction of Digital Government

4.1 Outline 2022 saw a critical period for the rapid advancement of the reform and construction of digital government. In June 2022, the State Council issued The Guiding Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of Digital Government. The Guiding Opinions raises requirements for the construction of digital government, clarifies specific implementation plans, draws a grand blueprint for the construction of digital government in China, and marks a new stage for the construction of digital government. It proposes to “strengthen holistic ideas, improve scientific and standardized system of digital government construction, and promote efficient sharing and orderly development and utilization of data in line with laws and regulations”, underscoring the significance of data security. Over the past year, the construction of digital government and e-government in China entered the “fast lane” of reform and development. Overall planning and construction were continuously promoted, digital service capability was further improved, and the level of data sharing and openness and development and utilization was sustainably enhanced. New methods and technologies helped governments perform their duties and improve quality and efficiency, and achieved remarkable results in boosting the modernization of national governance systems and governance capability.

4.2 Overall Planning and Construction Continue to Advance In the 14th Five-Year Plan, there is a special chapter on the “deployment and improvement of the construction of digital government”. Under the overall deployment of the Party and the state, in recent years, governments at various levels have energetically promoted the construction and development of digital government, accelerated the © Publishing House of Electronics Industry 2024 China Internet Development Report 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5130-7_4

83

84

4 The Construction of Digital Government

construction and implementation of plans, improved the systems and rules of digital government, and optimized construction and management.

4.2.1 China Further Improves Top-Level Design In June 2022, the State Council issued The Guiding Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of Digital Government, which made arrangements to actively comply with the trend of socioeconomic digital transformation, fully release the dividend of digital development, and comprehensively create a new situation for the construction of digital government. The Guiding Opinions further clarifies the guiding ideology, basic principles and main objectives of strengthening the construction of digital government, and proposes to give full play to the leading and core role of the Party in commanding overall situation and coordinating all parties, fully implement major decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and adhere to strengthening comprehensive leadership of the Party throughout all aspects of the construction of digital government and the whole process of digital reform and institutional innovation of governments, and ensure the right direction of the construction of digital government. As stated, by 2025, the top-level design of digital government will be more complete, and overall coordination mechanism will be more reasonable. The framework of a digital government system will basically form, the level of digitalization and intelligence of governmental performance will significantly improve, and scientific governmental decision-making, accurate social governance and efficient public services will remarkably advance. By 2035, the framework of the digital government system will mature, and digital government with overall coordination, flexibility and efficiency, intelligence and accuracy, openness and transparency, fairness and inclusiveness will begin to take shape. The Guiding Opinions clearly determines key jobs and tasks in seven aspects, including building a coordinated and efficient governmental digital performance capability system, constructing a comprehensive security guarantee system for digital government, and designing scientific and standardized systems of rules and regulations for the construction of digital government, aiming to comprehensively promote the digital transformation of governmental performance and operation, fully quicken intensive construction, interconnection and coordination of governmental application systems in various industries and fields, make innovation in the models of administrative management and service, and strengthen the performance efficiency of governments in an all-round way. In December 2021, National Development and Reform Commission released The Plan for Promoting National Government Informatization During the 14th FiveYear Plan Period, which put forward three major tasks, i.e. deep development and utilization of government big data, development and expansion of integrated innovation platforms, and an overall construction and collaborative governance system. It requires to highlight serving market entities and facilitating public life, promote

4.2 Overall Planning and Construction Continue to Advance

85

the construction of major government informatization projects in a coordinated way, comprehensively use new technologies, ideas and models to improve governance capabilities, optimize public services, foster high-quality economic growth and meet people’s expectations. Besides, it aims to strengthen the construction of digital government, forge digital governance capability commensurate with the development of digital economy, boost the construction of digital society, and effectively support the modernization of national governance systems and governance capability. In terms of security guarantee, documents on laws, regulations and standards are successively formulated, such as The Cybersecurity Law, The Data Security Law, The Personal Information Protection Law, The Regulations on the Security Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure, The Measures on Cybersecurity Review, The Measures on Data Exit Security Assessment, and The Measures on Cloud Computing Service Security Assessment, which establish a solid foundation for protecting the security of digital government construction. Relevant documents clearly require state organs to abide by the principle of “synchronous planning, synchronous construction and synchronous use” in the process of government work, strictly ensure cybersecurity, form and improve data security management systems, implement the responsibility of data security protection, and guarantee the security of government data. Simultaneously, relevant documents make clear provisions on the security of government data, entrusted data processing, disclosure of government data, collection and use of government data, and open government data, requiring state organs to collect and use data in accordance with the conditions and procedures prescribed by laws and administrative regulations within the scope of their legal duties, and to keep confidential personal information known by state organs in the performance of their duties according to law.

4.2.2 Various Regions Actively Carry Out Planning and Deployment In recent years, centering on the construction and development of digital government, various regions actively engaged in planning, deployment and innovation in practice and carried out systematic layout and overall planning of relevant work, which stimulated the vitality of data innovation and promoted the steady progress of digital government construction. In terms of planning and deployment, by the end of June 2022, 25 provincial governments (80.6%) had released special plans or overall deployment documents for digital government, as shown in Table 4.1. In terms of local legislation, many provinces or cities spotlight the value of data and issue laws and regulations related to data in combination with the development condition of various regions to continuously promote the effective application of data. Table 4.2 shows data regulations in relation to the construction of digital government recently launched by some provinces, cities and regions.

86

4 The Construction of Digital Government

Table 4.1 Special plans or overall deployment documents of digital government released by provincial governments Province

Name of document

Document No

Date

Jiangxi

The Three−Year Action Plan for the Construction of Digital Government in Jiangxi 2022–2024

Gan Fu Ting Zi (2022) No. 49

May 27, 2022

Yunnan

The Plan for Digital Yunnan During the 14th Five−Year Plan Period

Yun Zheng Fa (2022) No. 26

April 27, 2022

Jiangsu

The Implementation Opinions of Jiangsu Provincial Government on Accelerating Overall Promotion of High−Quality Construction of Digital Government

Su Zheng Fa (2022) April 4, 2022 No. 44

Hunan

The Implementation Plan for the Construction of Digital Government in Hunan Province During the 14th Five−Year Plan Period

Xiang Zheng Ban Han (2022) No. 23

March 23, 2022

Gansu

The Overall Plan for the Construction of Digital Government in Gansu Province 2021–2025

Gan Zheng Ban Fa (2021) No. 113

December 22, 2021

Heilongjiang

The Plan for the Construction of Digital Government in Heilongjiang Province During the 14th Five−Year Plan Period

Hei Zheng Fa (2021) No. 17

December 30, 2021

Guangxi

The Plan for Digital Development of Guangxi During the 14th Five−Year Plan Period

Gui Shu Fa (2021) No. 29

November 26, 2021

Fujian

The Special Plan for Digital Fujian in Fujian Province During the 14th Five−Year Plan Period

Min Zheng (2021) No. 25

November 16, 2021

Shaanxi

The Plan for the Construction of Digital Government in Shaanxi Province During the 14th Five−Year Plan Period

Shaanxi Zheng Ban October 27, Fa (2021) 27 2021

Liaoning

The Plan for the Development of Digital Government in Liaoning Province During the 14th Five−Year Plan Period

Liao Zheng Ban Fa October 16, (2021) No. 26 2021

Shanghai

The Plan for Promoting Urban Digital Transformation in an All−round Way in Shanghai During the 14th Five−Year Plan Period

Hu Fu Ban Fa (2021) No. 29

October 24, 2021

Sichuan

The Plan for the Construction of Digital Government in Sichuan Province During the 14th Five−Year Plan Period

Chuan Fu Fa (2021) No. 24

September 27, 2021

Tianjin

The Three−Year Action Plan for Accelerating Digital Development of Tianjin People’s Municipal Government 2021–2023

Jin Zheng Fa (2021) No. 14

August 23, 2021

(continued)

4.2 Overall Planning and Construction Continue to Advance

87

Table 4.1 (continued) Province

Name of document

Jilin

The Plan for the Construction of Digital Ji Zheng Shu Zong Government in Jilin Province During the He (2021) No. 8 14th Five−Year Plan Period

Document No

June 30, 2021

Guangdong

The Plan for the Reform and Construction of Digital Government in Guangdong Province During the 14th Five−Year Plan Period

June 30, 2021

Zhejiang

The Plan for the Construction of Digital Zhe Zheng Fa Government in Zhejiang Province During (2021) No. 13 the 14th Five−Year Plan Period

June 4, 2021

Beijing

The Outline of the Action Plan for the Development of Smart City in Beijing During the 14th Five−Year Plan Period

Jing Da Shu Ju Fa (2021) No. 1

March 5, 2021

Ningxia

The Action Plan for the Construction of Digital Government in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 2021–2023

Ning Zheng Fa (2021) No. 11

March 1, 2021

Guizhou

The Overall Plan for the Construction of Unknown Digital Government in Guizhou Province During the 14th Five−Year Plan Period

2021

Henan

The Overall Plan for the Construction of Digital Government in Henan Province 2020–2022

Yu Zheng (2020) No. 35

December 11, 2020

Anhui

The Plan for the Construction of Digital Government in Anhui Province 2020–2025

Wan Zheng (2020) No. 44

October 24, 2020

Hebei

The Special Action Plan for Improving the Service Capability of Digital Government in Hebei Province

Unknown

October 2020

Shanxi

The Plan for the Construction of Digital Government in Shanxi Province 2020–2022

Jin Zheng Ban Fa (2020) No. 79

September 29, 2020

Hubei

The Overall Plan for the Construction of Digital Government in Hubei Province 2020–2022

E Zheng Fa (2020) No. 12

June 17, 2020

Shandong

The Implementation Plan for the Construction of Digital Government in Shandong Province 2019–2022

Lu Zheng Ban Fa (2019) No. 8

March 13, 2019

Yue Fu (2021) No. 44

Date

Data regulations of various regions focus on three aspects as follows. Firstly, actively building integrated and intelligent public data platforms. The Regulations for Public Data in Zhejiang Province clearly defines the standards for the integrated construction of a public data platform, breaks institutional barriers of vertical-horizontal fragmentation of digital resources, establishes an intelligent

88

4 The Construction of Digital Government

Table 4.2 Data regulations in relation to the construction of digital government recently launched by some provinces, cities and regions Province, city and Name of document region

Document no

Date

Liaoning

The Regulations for the The Announcement of the May 31, 2022 Development of Big Data in Standing Committee of Liaoning Province Liaoning Provincial People’s Congress (the 13th Session) No. 97

Heilongjiang

The Regulations for Promoting the Development and Application of Big Data in Heilongjiang Province

The Announcement of the May 13, 2022 Standing Committee of Heilongjiang Provincial People’s Congress (the 13th Session) No. 47

Chongqing

The Data Regulations in Chongqing

The Announcement of the Standing Committee of Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress (the 5th Session) No. 177

Zhejiang

The Regulations for Public Data in Zhejiang Province

The Announcement of the January 21, Sixth Meeting of Zhejiang 2022 Provincial People’s Congress (the 13th Session) No. 3

Fujian

The Regulations for the The Announcement of the December 15, Development of Big Data in Standing Committee of 2021 Fujian Province Fujian Provincial People’s Congress (the 13th Session) No. 64

Shanghai

The Data Regulations in Shanghai

The Announcement of the November 25, Standing Committee of 2021 Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress (the 15th Session) No. 94

Shandong

The Regulations for Promoting the Development of Big Data in Shandong Province

The Announcement of the September 30, Standing Committee of 2021 Shandong Provincial People’s Congress (No. 167)

Shenzhen

The Data Regulations in The Announcement of the Shenzhen Special Economic Standing Committee of Zone Shenzhen Municipal People’s Congress (the 7th Session) No. 10

July 6, 2021

Anhui

The Regulations for the The Announcement of the Development of Big Data in Standing Committee of Anhui Province Anhui Provincial People’s Congress (No. 41)

March 29, 2021

March 30, 2022

4.2 Overall Planning and Construction Continue to Advance

89

public data platform, and realizes effective flow and sharing of public data.1 The Regulations for the Development of Big Data in Anhui Province implements classified management of data, stipulates public data to be collected in Jianghuai Big Data Center, encourages non-public data to be collected in Jianghuai Big Data Center, and promotes the integration, sharing, effective flow, development and application of data resources. Secondly, maximizing the flow, development and utilization of public data. The Data Regulations in Shanghai clarifies public data authorization and operation mechanism and optimizes the whole lifecycle governance system of public-data collection, integration, sharing, opening and application. The Regulations for Public Data in Zhejiang Province specifies that competent departments of public data should coordinate the construction of a provincial integrated digital resource system, promote efficient allocation and supply of digital resources, and realize the orderly flow and sharing of public data across levels, regions, systems, departments and businesses. The Data Regulations in Chongqing determines that Chongqing and Sichuan shall jointly initiate the construction of a data standardization system and establish data basic standards and specifications according to the needs of regional data sharing to promote the sharing and utilization of data resources. Thirdly, establishing and improving a public data sharing security system. The Data Regulations in Shanghai introduces a data classification and grading protection system, clarifies the requirements for data protection at various levels, and improves data protection strategies. It establishes an important data directory management mechanism to stress the protection of data listed in the directory. The Regulations for Promoting the Development of Big Data in Shandong Province clearly specifies that Shandong implements a data security accountability system, which involves the supervision responsibilities of departments and the protection responsibilities of data-security responsible units. The Regulations for the Development of Big Data in Liaoning Province includes a special chapter on “data security”, stipulating that Liaoning implements a data security responsibility system and a classification and grading protection system, so as to clarify the principle of responsibility identification and establish a data security management system.

4.2.3 The Construction and Implementation of Systems and Platforms Progress Steadily Governments at various levels accelerate the planning and layout of information infrastructure, quicken the construction of integrated government service platforms, and promote the integration of government information systems. They continuously invest in the construction of e-government-related systems and platforms in various

1

Jiaxing Municipal People’s Government: Standardizing the Management Public Data and Stimulating the Vitality of Data Innovation, March 21, 2022, http://www.jiaxing.gov.cn.

90

4 The Construction of Digital Government

Fig. 4.1 The number of construction projects for provincial government data governance in 2021. Data source www.ccgp.gov.cn

fields and industries, and achieve remarkable results, which forge a solid foundation for the construction of e-government informatization. With the analysis of bidding documents published on www.ccgp.gov.cn from January to December 2021, a total of 707 construction and service projects of provincial government data governance are selected.2 Among them, top six provincial governments in the number of construction projects are Chongqing (63), Shanghai (49), Beijing (47), Heilongjiang (36), Shandong (36) and Zhejiang (36), as shown in Fig. 4.1. In the total number of construction projects, in recent years, the number of construction projects for provincial government data governance presented an upward trend. In 2021, the number of construction projects for provincial government data governance exceeded 700 for the first time. Figure 4.2 shows the number of construction projects for provincial government data governance from 2017 to 2021. In project investment scale, in 2021, the investment in construction and service projects for provincial government data governance amounted to 1720.2095 million yuan in total, which remained at a high level. In terms of total investment, top three provinces were Yunnan (207.2658 million yuan), Shaanxi (137.1834 million yuan) and Sichuan (133.972 million yuan). Besides, Chongqing, Beijing, Shandong, Zhejiang and other regions realized high investment, as shown in Fig. 4.3. In the total investment in the past years, in 2021, the total investment in construction and service projects for provincial government data governance significantly 2

Data Source: http://www.ccgp.gov.cn/.

4.2 Overall Planning and Construction Continue to Advance

91

Fig. 4.2 The number of construction projects for provincial government data governance from 2017 to 2021. Data source www.ccgp.gov.cn

Fig. 4.3 The total investment in construction and service projects for provincial government data governance in 2021. Data source www.ccgp.gov.cn

diminished. There were two reasons. On the one hand, the infrastructure of provincial data governance was basically completed, with the construction of relevant infrastructure and large platforms dropping markedly. On the other hand, under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, local governments decreased the investment in government data governance. Figure 4.4 shows the total investment in construction projects for provincial government data governance from 2017 to 2021. In the fields of investment and construction, in 2021, construction and service projects for provincial government data governance were distributed in 24 different

92

4 The Construction of Digital Government

Fig. 4.4 The total investment in construction projects for provincial government data governance from 2017 to 2021. Data source www.ccgp.gov.cn

fields, including comprehensive service, land planning, public security, finance and tax, and transportation, with a wide range of fields of investment and construction. Figure 4.5 shows the distribution and proportion of construction and service projects for provincial government data governance from January to December 2021.

Fig. 4.5 The distribution and proportion of construction and service projects for provincial government data governance from January to December 2021. Data source www.ccgp.gov.cn

4.3 Digital Service Capability Further Improves

93

4.3 Digital Service Capability Further Improves Local governments at various levels actively promote the construction of digital government and innovate the idea of government governance, and take a series of measures in digital service-oriented government. Over the past year, local governments at various levels vigorously built accessible, intelligent, convenient, fair and inclusive digital service systems, achieved remarkable results in the construction of the national integrated government service platform, and significantly improved digital service, so that citizens spent less time with the help of data. Development models, such as the reform of “coming at most once” in Zhejiang, the reform of “electronic approval” in Jiangsu, the reform of “handing affairs via Internet” in Shanghai and the policy list of “receiving unemployment insurance premium without application” in Liaoning, effectively solved the problems of “handling affairs with great difficulty, long time and complex procedures” among citizens and enterprises, and deepened the development of government services.

4.3.1 Remarkable Results are Made in the Construction of National Integrated Government Service Platform In March 2022, the State Council issued The Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Standardization, Normalization and Facilitation of Government Service, which proposed that the construction of the national integrated government service platform was initially completed in the month and fully completed by the end of 2022 as planned. According to relevant statistical data released by General Office of the State Council, at the national level, the national integrated government service platform is continuously improved, and the performance of “handing affairs via Internet” is significantly enhanced. By June 2022, there were more than 950 million real-name registered users of the national integrated government service platform, including more than 580 million real-name registered users of the national government service platform. The national integrated government service platform has been used more than 62 billion times. It helps to significantly improve government services and realize 90.5% of provincial administrative licensing affairs accepted online and “handled at most once”, with average commitment time limits reduced by 51%. At the local level, governments at various levels release relevant plans for the construction of government service platforms and actively promote the digital integration of government service. By June 2022, local governments at various levels had built a “network” of national government service that connected 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and 46 departments of the State Council with the national government service platform as a main hub, and formed a multi-level government service system that covers departments at national, provincial, municipal and county levels. 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under

94

4 The Construction of Digital Government

the Central Government and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps have built government service platforms, of which 30 regions have covered province, city, county, town and village. The proportion of online government service “vertically connected at five levels” reaches up to 93.75%. The scope of government service “connected to every village” enlarges constantly, which promotes the extension of government service to grass-roots and rural areas.

4.3.2 Breakthroughs are Made in the Coordination of Handing Inter-provincial Affairs According to the data of the Seventh National Census in 2021, domestic transprovincial floating population has reached 124.84 million, accounting for 8.8% of the total population of China. The realization of handing inter-provincial affairs in government service is directly associated with people’s sense of gain and happiness. To address the problems of handling affairs in different cities many times among enterprises and citizens, “handing inter-provincial affairs” requires to accelerate the transformation of government services from the supply orientation of government departments to the demand orientation of enterprises and citizens, and to reduce the costs of citizens’ handling affairs or facilitate citizens’ handling affairs in different cities by taking such measures as “whole-process handling affairs via Internet”, “handling affairs trusted by citizens in a collective way” and “multi-region linkage”. Promoting “handing inter-provincial affairs” in government service means an important approach to transform the functions of governments and improve the capabilities of government services. In September 2020, General Office of the State Council issued The Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Promotion of Handing Inter-Provincial Affairs in Government Services, which clarified the names, use cases, leading units, cooperative units and implementation deadlines of 140 high-frequency “handing inter-provincial affairs” items in the form of list. Since the implementation of the Guiding Opinions, governments at various levels have basically realized highfrequency “handing inter-provincial affairs” in government services, with the rapid development of data collection, access port, electronic-license sharing and mutual recognition and other aspects on the national integrated government service platform. Positive progress is made in handing inter-provincial affairs at three levels. Firstly, data from various regions are efficiently connected and data sharing is quickly realized. In neighboring provinces, “handing local affairs” is generally promoted, which helps realize “handing inter-provincial affairs”. In particular, regional cooperation in the Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and Sichuan-Chongqing-Guizhou region has made rapid progress. Simultaneously, in key areas of labor import and export, point-to-point cooperation model accelerates, with people-oriented basic public services provided for a large number of floating population.

4.4 The Level of Data Sharing, Opening, Development and Utilization …

95

Secondly, data exchange and mutual recognition among various departments effectively boost data sharing. Based on the national integrated government service platform and national data sharing and exchange platform, a data sharing and exchange system that covers 53 departments of the State Council, 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is constructed. By May 2022, a national integrated government data sharing hub had released more than 15,200 government data sets, and provided data call services more than 320 billion times. From June 2021 to May 2022, the national integrated government data sharing hub provided data call services more than 216.056 billion times, and the maximum number of call services in a single month reached 23.155 billion. Vis-à-vis the number of data calls before May 2021, the average number of monthly data calls increased from 9.862 billion to 18.004 billion.3 Thirdly, the application of electronic licenses expands and further streamlines various types of licenses. In February 2022, General Office of the State Council issued The Opinions on Accelerating the Expansion of the Application Fields of Electronic Licenses and National Mutual Recognition of Electronic Licenses, in a bid to promote the realization of “handing inter-provincial affairs” in terms of more than 100 highfrequency government services and more than 200 public services (e.g. the registration of market entity, the transfer and continuation of pension insurance relationship, the verification of professional qualification certificates, etc.). “Handing regional affairs” is opened in six regions like Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta and Sichuan-Chongqing region, and “point-to-point” “handing inter-provincial affairs” is available in 41 types, making it more convenient and efficient for citizens to handle affairs in different cities. By June 2022, the electronic license sharing service system of the national integrated government service platform had collected more than 900 kinds of electronic license catalog information nationwide and provided electronic license sharing services4 more than five billion times. The expansion of the application of electronic licenses robustly supports the “reduction of materials and certificates”, enlarges the scope of “handing inter-provincial affairs”, and timely solves the problem of handling affairs in different cities among the public.

4.4 The Level of Data Sharing, Opening, Development and Utilization Continues to Rise The sharing, opening, development and utilization of government data serve as a key chain in building digital government. In 2021, The Opinions of General Office of the State Council on Establishing and Improving the Coordination Mechanism for Government Data Sharing and Accelerating the Orderly Sharing of Data was 3 4

Data Source: General Office of the State Council. Data Source: General Office of the State Council.

96

4 The Construction of Digital Government

officially issued. Since then, various regions and departments have promoted government data sharing and opening, and made significant progress in the quantity, quality and system construction in terms of data sharing and opening.

4.4.1 Significant Achievements Are Made in Government Data Sharing Local governments at various levels accelerate the construction of public data sharing and business informatization, and accumulate a large number of government data resources. They continuously publish data sharing interfaces, update data entries, facilitate data connectivity and sharing among various governments and regions, promote the construction of data resource informatization in an all-round way and achieve remarkable results. By June 2022, the national data sharing and exchange platform had launched more than 680,000 directories and published more than 1000 data sharing interfaces. Since its opening, the platform has provided more than 7.8 billion query and verification services. From July 2021 to June 2022, the maximum number of query and verification services provided in a single month reached 547 million, and the cumulative number of services provided exceeded four billion. Compared with 2020, the average number of monthly query and verification interface calls increased from 98 million to more than 340 million, with remarkable results made in government data sharing.5 Figure 4.6 shows the call of query and verification interface of the national data sharing and exchange platform from July 2021 to June 2022. The concentration of the demand for government data sharing remains high nationwide. From July 2021 to June 2022, the total number of data query and verification services provided by General Office of the State Council, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Education, State Administration for Market Regulation, Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development and Ministry of Civil Affairs exceeded 3.8 billion, accounting for more than 93% of all query and verification services of the national data sharing and exchange platform. Figure 4.7 shows the proportion of data query and verification services provided by various ministries and commissions from July 2021 to June 2022. Various provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government have substantial and universal demand for the use of data of ministries and commissions. From July 2021 to June 2022, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong, Jiangsu, Xinjiang, Hainan, Hubei, Guizhou, Liaoning and Shanghai ranked top ten in terms of data query and verification via the national data sharing and exchange platform, as shown in Fig. 4.8. In data sharing and utilization, there is a big gap among provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. The number of call to interface in Guangdong, Zhejiang 5

Data Source: National Data Sharing and Exchange Platform.

4.4 The Level of Data Sharing, Opening, Development and Utilization …

97

Fig. 4.6 The call of query and verification interface of national data sharing and exchange platform from July 2021 to June 2022. Data source National Data Sharing and Exchange Platform

Fig. 4.7 The proportion of data query and verification services provided by various ministries and commissions from July 2021 to June 2022. Data source National Data Sharing and Exchange Platform

and Shandong provinces approximates to the sum of other 28 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. In government data sharing and interaction between ministries and commissions, from July 2021 to June 2022, when Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee carried out the real-name authentication of “anti-addiction” of online games, the query and verification of basic natural person information outnumbered the total number of the query and verification of basic natural person information in

98

4 The Construction of Digital Government

Fig. 4.8 The comparison of the times of call to query and verification interface by provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government from July 2021 to June 2022. Data source National Data Sharing and Exchange Platform

special additional deductions for individual income tax carried out by State Taxation Administration. This signaled the largest business of data sharing, with the average number of calls exceeding 110 million per month. State Taxation Administration conducted more than 91 million monthly calls for basic information query and verification of natural persons when carrying out special additional deductions for individual income tax.

4.4.2 The Number of Government Data Opening Platforms Increases Significantly Governments at various levels accelerate the opening of public data resources, strengthen the planning and construction of data opening platforms, and promote the development and utilization of data. The number of data opening platforms increases yearly, which comprehensively boosts the high-quality development of data opening. By October 2021, in China, local governments of 193 provinces and cities had launched data opening platforms, i.e. 24 provincial platforms, 11 sub-provincial platforms and 158 municipal platforms, with nearly 250,000 open effective data sets. Figure 4.9 shows the change trend of the number of local government data opening platforms in China from 2012 to 2021. Figure 4.10 shows the comparison of the number of local government data opening platforms at various levels.

4.4 The Level of Data Sharing, Opening, Development and Utilization …

99

Fig. 4.9 The change trend of the number of local government data opening platforms in China from 2012 to 2021. Data source www.ifopendata.cn

Fig. 4.10 The comparison of the number of government data opening platforms at various levels. Data source Report on Local Government Data Opening in China (The Second Half of 2021)

4.4.3 The Development and Utilization of Government Data Resources Continue to Deepen In recent years, various regions and departments have actively developed public data, stimulated data vitality, and released the value of government data on the premise of protecting state secrets, trade secrets and personal privacy, which empower the construction of digital government, effectively improve the security and efficiency of public management, and reduce management costs and error rates. In the development and utilization of public data, in order to meet the needs of the development of local digital economy, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, together with relevant departments, carries out the pilot program in

100

4 The Construction of Digital Government

eight provinces and municipalities, including Guangdong and Shanghai. These pilot areas actively explore and complete a lot of tasks in working mechanism, policy and regulation, use case and security guarantee, formulate eight local regulations, and establish more than 140 standards and specifications, with 158 use cases in 12 fields such as inclusive finance, transportation and healthcare. In industrial application, social security, banking and other fields actively promote the development and utilization of industrial data, and achieve good economic and social benefits. Various regions continue to enlarge the integrated application of public data and release the use case of digital economy. Take Guangzhou as an example. In February 2022, the People’s Government of Guangzhou Municipality formulated and issued The Implementation Plan for Guangzhou to Build National Business Environment Innovation Pilot City, which launched “Business Environment 5.0” reform, and proposed to cultivate and develop data factor market and give full play to the important value of data as a key factor of production. As the plan states, Guangzhou will further innovate the model of public data operation, explore the establishment of the data broker qualification certification and management system, strengthen the supervision of data brokers, and standardize the practice of data brokers. Besides, Guangzhou will build Guangzhou Nansha (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao) Data Factor Cooperation Pilot Zone, explore the establishment of “data customs”, and conduct the review, evaluation and supervision of cross-border data flow. In the orderly opening of some public data generated by public management and service institutions, Guangzhou accelerates the formulation of The Regulations for Public Data Management in Guangzhou, standardizes the activities of public data processing, ensures the security of public data, and releases the value of public data. Guangzhou also focuses on the use cases in which enterprises and citizens have an urgent demand for public data, and carries out the pilot of the development and utilization of public data resources, such as population monitoring, national SME financing comprehensive credit service platform and housing qualification inquiry. The authorized operation of public data quickens the release of the value of government data. The 14th Five-Year Plan raises new requirements for the flow of government data resources, demands the pilot of authorized operation of government data, and encourages third parties to deepen the tapping and utilization of public data. Currently, governments at various levels actively promote the managementoperation-separation model of authorized operation of data. The Data Regulations in Shanghai researches and establishes the mechanism of authorized operation of public data. Following the model of the franchise of public resources, General Office of Shanghai Municipal Government determines authorized operation subjects in competition, authorizes them to operate public data in a market-oriented manner within a certain period and scope, provides data products and services, and obtains profits therefrom.

4.5 New Methods and Technologies Help to Improve Quality and Efficiency

101

4.5 New Methods and Technologies Help to Improve Quality and Efficiency Digitalization provides new ideas, methods and means to solve various governance problems. In recent years, various regions and departments closely center on new tasks and requirements in the new stage, explore innovative models in practice, and use information technology to promote the construction of digital government. Digital reform of traditional feedback channels on people’s livelihood boosts, amplifies and helps the improvement of quality and efficiency in government performance, which breeds profound changes to the model of government performance. The construction of the privacy computing and blockchain platform provides technological support for promoting cross-field data collaboration and solving the problem of “isolated data island”.

4.5.1 Performing Duties on Apps Becomes More Intelligent and Convenient To use mobile apps to consult documents, collect information, join discussions and give suggestions on the cloud becomes a new way for delegates to NPC deputies and CPPCC members to gather and voice public opinions. General Office of the State Council collects, forwards and treats the opinions and suggestions from NPC deputies and CPPCC members in an effective way. It has launched an applet of “comments on government work from NPC deputies and CPPCC members” during the two sessions for two consecutive years, in order to build a network channel for NPC deputies and CPPCC members to put forward opinions and suggestions on government work, and ensure their comments handled and answered in a timely manner. The applet is connected to the website www.gov.cn/ zhengce/zhengcewenjianku/index.htm, which provides convenient services for NPC deputies and CPPCC members to perform their duties and give their suggestions. Zhejiang launches “Ren Da Dai Biao Ding” to further diversify the means for performance on apps, iteratively upgrade the information on previous provincial people’s congress, and improve the quality and efficiency of the performance of deputies during Zhejiang Provincial People’s Congress. “Zhe Zheng Ding” app contains 20 sub-functional modules, which basically covers the whole scene for deputies to perform their duties. Deputies can receive various conference notices, track proposals and take part in budget review at mobile phones. In November 2021, Wenzhou released The Working Standards for Digital CPPCC Proposals, which

102

4 The Construction of Digital Government

would cloudify the performance of deputies or the special supervision of the implementation of matters concerning people’s livelihood, and enable deputies to perform their duties on apps.6

4.5.2 AI Helps to Improve the Intelligent Level of Government Services AI technology is widely applied in the field of government services, which helps to enhance the scientificalness of decision-making, improve the priority and pertinence of services, effectively raise the efficiency of public services, strengthen the transparency of public services, optimize the communication with users, and augment people’s sense of gain. Some provinces and cities effectually use AI to improve the intelligent level of government work, supervision, service and decision-making. https://banshi.beijing. gov.cn introduces a series of comprehensive, accurate and intelligent differentiated services, such as “online guidance for handling affairs”, “unified user space” and “flow chart of service guide”, in order to facilitate online handling affairs for enterprises and citizens. With AI technology and government service knowledge library, its intelligent customer service system can analyze and answer the inquiries of enterprises and citizens in real time, and provide them with “7×24-h” service. Guizhou promotes the application of 5G, blockchain, AI and other new technologies in “one cloud, one network and one platform”, realizes the operation-responsibility system, sharing and intensive construction, and smart service-quality supervision processes, and deepens the demonstration and application of government data, public data, social data and other data resources in various fields such as socioeconomic development and operation monitoring. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region applies “AI + remote video image telemetry” technology to optimize the patrol model of transmission line, complete three types of innovation in “unified video + UAV”, “microwave relay device transformation in non-signal areas” and “emergency patrol mobile phone access”, and construct multiple “UAV + AI” patrol models.

4.5.3 Privacy Computing Helps to Solve the Problem of “Isolated Data Island” In recent years, privacy computing becomes an important technology to solve the problem of data flow. Based on the premise of preventing data leakage, data analysis and calculation can be realized to achieve the “usability and invisibility” of data. 6

NCCPPCC Wenzhou Municipal Committee: “Wenzhou Makes New Achievements in Digital CPPCC and Digital Reform Empowers Members of NCCPPCC Wenzhou Municipal Committee to Perform Their Duties on Cloud”, November 27, 2021, http://www.wzzx.gov.cn.

4.5 New Methods and Technologies Help to Improve Quality and Efficiency

103

Some provinces and cities apply privacy computing to the development and utilization of government data. Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong highlight market-based data factors, actively deploy privacy computing, strengthen digital infrastructure, break the barriers of data resources, and invigorate the value of data resources. Beijing focuses on strengthening weak chains of privacy computing, building basic platforms for privacy computing, unclogging the channels of data and industrial chain, and forming a trusted intelligent basic environment for computing that features multi-filed coordination, independence and controllability and security and privacy. Shanghai innovatively integrates “zero trust” and other technologies, builds a healthy ecology, and promotes technological applications like privacy computing with other provinces in the Yangtze River Delta. Guangdong constructs three hubs of new-type data infrastructure (including privacy protection computing), and explores to solve privacy protection problems in data sharing by combining “multi-party computing” and other technologies. Zhejiang applies privacy computing and other technologies to promote the separation of data ownership and use rights. Shandong Provincial Bureau of Big Data builds the first provincial government data privacy computing platform in China to facilitate the safe flow of data factors with the “best practice” of privacy computing. Presently, the privacy computing platform mobilizes social forces, develops more than 140 apps of practical value to the public with government data, and provides a platform of innovation and creation for small and medium-sized enterprises.7

4.5.4 Blockchain Helps Inter-regional Collaboration of Government Services In the past year, with data sharing and interaction, inter-regional collaboration is achieved in government services (e.g. in the fields of license, notarization, public resource transaction and jurisdiction), and overall efficiency is improved. Various regions actively explore inter-regional collaboration mechanism based on blockchain. Haidian District (Beijing) cooperates with many cities and regions in “blockchain + handing inter-provincial affairs”. The construction of integrated blockchain platform of Shandong Provincial Capital Economic Circle (the Yellow River Basin) is officially launched. “wetrustchain”, the first national notarial alliance operation chain, is released in Ningbo, Zhejiang. Hefei Public Resources Trading Center, in conjunction with public resources trading centers in Wuhan, Changsha and Nanchang, promotes the integrated development of public resources trading in provincial capital cities or urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Shanghai Financial Court and other four local courts explore a regional integrated financial governance platform in the Yangtze River Delta based on blockchain technology. 7

Data Source: China Privacy Computing Industry Development Report 2020–2021 published by National Industrial Information Security Development Research Center.

104

4 The Construction of Digital Government

Additionally, various regions continue to advance the construction of a social credit system based on “blockchain + data assets”. Jiangxi builds the first provincial unified “blockchain + corporate credit service” platform, and launches the first provincial integration evaluation platform “Gan Tong Fen”. Guangdong issues the first public data asset certificate in China. Wenzhou issues “personal data asset cloud certificate”.8 Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region enlarges the application of blockchain technology in public resources trading, foregrounds the business handling of market entities, promotes the intelligence and convenience of the trading process, greatly streamlines procedures and materials, and achieves “handling affairs on apps timely”.

8

Data Source: 2022 Global Blockchain Application Market Report published by Coinsay.

Chapter 5

The Construction of Digital Society

5.1 Outline Human society enters the digital era in an all-round way. New-generation information technology is used to manage the operation of cities and villages in a more systematic and efficient way, which enables various functions in society to operate in a coordinated way, and provides wider development space for enterprises and higher quality of life for citizens. New-generation information technologies, such as big data, AI and blockchain, make public services more intelligent, convenient, people-friendly and efficient. Citizens’ digital literacy improves. The construction of digital society proves more inclusive and harmonious, painting a new picture of a better digital life. Simultaneously, the active innovation and in-depth application of “digital anti-pandemic” approach further enhance the anti-pandemic capabilities of governments, enterprises and other social forces.

5.2 Public Services Become More Intelligent and Convenient In China, social services are being more digital, networked and intelligence-based. This quickly breaks the bottlenecks, offsets weaknesses and overcome obstacles in the development of people’s livelihood, and enhances people’s sense of gain, happiness and security in a broader and deeper sense. New business forms and models, e.g. smart education, smart healthcare, smart transportation and smart cultural tourism, mushroom. “Benefiting citizens with digital means” advances towards a new stage of development, and comprehensively helps to build a high-level “digital China”.

© Publishing House of Electronics Industry 2024 China Internet Development Report 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5130-7_5

105

106

5 The Construction of Digital Society

5.2.1 The Service Level of People’s Livelihood Improves Significantly 1. The Public Service System of National Digital Educational Resources Improves The national digital educational resources system has been connected to 233 platforms at various levels. The system actualizes the collection of social high-quality educational resources, and displays a total of 176 apps of educational services. The resources cover 85 disciplines and 873 versions (totally more than 50 million entries), available to teachers and students in primary, middle and high schools free of charge, promoting educational fairness and benefiting larger groups.1 National Internet Cloud Platform for Primary and Secondary Schools strongly supports “online education in school suspension”, with the number of visits to the cloud platform reaching 3.538 billion. MOOC (massive open online courses) and online teaching become the “new normal”. By the end of February 2022, more than 52,500 MOOCs had been provided nationwide, and more than 330 million college students had obtained MOOC credits.2 2. Internet Diagnosis and Treatment and Supervision System Develops Fast According to relevant data of National Health Commission, by June 2022, more than 1700 Internet hospitals had been built nationwide, more than 7000 public hospitals at or above the second level had been connected to the national health information platform, regional “one card (code) pass” for medical institutions had been realized in more than 260 cities, and inter-hospital connectivity had been initially achieved in more than 2200 third-level hospitals. Telemedicine covers nearly 90% of counties and districts, which effectively eases the pressure of hospital medical services and meets the medical needs of patients. The procedures of medical services substantially improve. The appointment diagnosis and treatment and mobile payment effectively ameliorate patients’ medical experience. More than 50% of the third-level hospitals nationwide carry out appointment diagnosis and treatment. More than 7700 hospitals above the second level establish an appointment diagnosis and treatment system, and more than 80% of them achieve accurate appointment diagnosis and treatment in different periods.3 2337 third-level hospitals open online payment service, and more than 5000 second-level hospitals provide online payment, intelligent medical guidance and triage services. The service scope of health information platforms of traditional Chinese medicine clinics continues to expand. By December 2021, the platform had been connected to 16200 traditional Chinese medicine hospitals (clinics), with 44,000 registered doctors, 15.7557 million patients, 1.065 million electronic medical records of traditional Chinese medicine, more than 1.09 million prescriptions, and more than 1.26 million inquiries of knowledge database. The 1

Data Source: Ministry of Education. www.people.com.cn: “The First Cloud Education Development Conference Held in Beijing”, December 30, 2021, http://edu.people.com.cn/n1/2021/1230/c1006-32321108.html. 3 Data Source: The transcripts of National Health Commission Regular Press Conference on April 27, 2021, http://www.nhc.gov.cn/xcs/s3574/202104/df811bc1ee8b4c8db0f0561758172ca8.shtml. 2

5.2 Public Services Become More Intelligent and Convenient

107

Internet medical supervision system further improves. 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government have established Internet medical supervision platforms.4 3. Internet-Based Travel Service Becomes More Convenient and Secure In 2021, the proportion of railway Internet ticket sales nationwide exceeded 80%, and the application of electronic tickets covered national high-speed railways and intercity railway stations, as well as 800 road passenger stations and more than 200 airports. Remarkable results are achieved in the innovation and application of “Internet + ” convenient transportation, and new business forms like “travel services on apps” are constantly launched. The centralized rectification of national “12,328” hotline is fully completed, and 318 cities above the prefecture level is interconnected with all traffic cards. Online car-hailing service is gradually standardized, the regulatory policy system of online car-hailing market is increasingly improved, and the rights and interests of passengers, ride safety and service quality are effectively ensured. “95,128” telephone call service has been opened in 102 cities, and the “one-touch call” function of online car-hailing provides car service for elderly passengers.5 4. The Digital Service System of Social Security Increasingly Improves The issuance scale of social security cards continuously expands, and use cases diversify. In 2021, the number of social-security-card holders nationwide reached 1.352 billion, covering 95.7% of the total population. 138 million third-generation social security cards were issued. More than 500 million people received electronic social security cards. 459 channels were opened, providing 62 national services and more than 1000 local services. The total number of visits throughout the year exceeded 11.251 billion. In social security handling, the “elder-friendly” service is optimized, with the transfer and continuation of social security relations becoming more convenient. 14 types of affairs, such as social security card service, insurancecertificate query and printing, occupational injury accident filing, and personnel-file receiving and transfer of mobile personnel, can be handled in different provinces.6

5.2.2 Significant Results Are Produced in Key Fields and Use Cases 1. The Use Cases of e-CNY Are Continually Amplified With e-CNY becoming more popular, initial results are achieved in the use case of digital government in many pilot areas. By the end of 2021, the use cases of digital 4

Data Source: National Health Commission. Data Source: The Plan for Digital Transportation Development During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period published by Ministry of Transport. 6 Data Source: Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. 5

108

5 The Construction of Digital Society

government in the pilot areas of e-CNY outnumbered 8.0851 million, with a transaction amount of 87.565 billion yuan.7 Under such themes as “promoting consumption”, “combating the pandemic” and “low-carbon travel”, the pilot areas successively carried out 18 rounds of e-CNY consumption hong bao activities, and issued a total of 290 million yuan. This effectively fostered social consumption compensation and potential release against the backdrop of the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, e-CNY plays an active role in accelerating rural revitalization and meeting the needs of rural enterprises and individuals for financial subsidies. The implementation of inclusive finance bridges the digital divide. Focusing on the pain points and payment needs of the disabled and the elderly, relevant departments constantly optimize the accessibility of elder-friendly services or functions of e-CNY. Since April 2022, Xiamen International Bank has successively set up rural inclusive financial service sites at Junying Village and Baijiaoci Village (Lianhua Town), Zhuba Huaqiao Farm (Wuxian Town), Tong’an District. In this way, villagers can enjoy convenient financial services without leaving their villages.8 In June 2022, Bank of China Hainan Branch innovated the service model of “e-CNY + smart eldercare”, and launched the use case of e-CNY elderly care payment in Haikou Puqin Mangzhong Eldercare Center. In the form of smart electronic card, e-CNY eldercare payment integrates e-CNY with practical functions in life such as real-time positioning, voice call and SOS, as well as “payment as a settlement” and smart contract of e-CNY hardware wallet. Particularly, the elderly can easily complete payment by “one touch” on mobile phones, which is simple and safe to operate.9 This facilitates the life of the elderly. 2. “Digital Winter Olympics” Provides Innovative Technological Services “Digital Winter Olympics” realizes the digital control of large-scale international events under the objective environment of the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides guarantee for the successful organization of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. AI technology is applied to various competitions, which can capture the details of competitions more clearly, ensure the fairness and scientificalness of competition judges, and meet multi-angle visual needs of the audience. Three-dimensional tracking technology is used to track the movement locus of athletes and apparatuses, and provide an important basis for post-match training. “My 2022”, an app for health status, is included in “Health Monitoring System (HMS)” to monitor and manage the health of relevant personnel via the health code.10 In Beijing Winter Olympics, new-edition eCNY app was launched in app stores. This effectively solved the problem of limited 7

Data Source: The State Council Information Office. www.people.com.cn: “e-CNY Helps Rural Revitalization and Xiamen International Bank Connects the ‘Last Mile’ of Rural Inclusive Financial Services, April 29, 2022, http://fj.people. com.cn/n2/2022/0429/c181466-35248394.html. 9 https://m.mpaypass.com.cn/: “With the Elder-Friendly Innovation, e-CNY ‘Smart Electronic Certificate’ Actualizes the Scene of Eldercare”, June 30, 2022, https://www.mpaypass.com.cn/ news/202206/30162346.html. 10 www.cssn.cn: “Digital Winter Olympics Ushers in a New Chapter of Digital Globalization”, March 11, 2022, http://www.cssn.cn/gjgxx/gj_bwsf/202203/t20220311_5398066.shtml. 8

5.2 Public Services Become More Intelligent and Convenient

109

payment options within the “red line” that arose from the sponsorship rights of Beijing Winter Olympics, and enabled users at home and abroad to experience safe and convenient payment. In “Beijing Hut” in Beijing Winter Olympics Village, spectators can freely choose their viewing angles and personally experience the speed and passion of ice and snow competition via “interactive multi-dimensional viewing experience technology and system of ice and snow events” developed by Peking University.11

5.2.3 Digital Cultural Tourism Creates a New Life Landscape Against the background of digital economy, in the deep integration of innovationdriven industries, a new model of “cultural tourism + ” accelerates the transformation and upgrading of digital cultural tourism industry. Meanwhile, The Plan for the Development of Tourism During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period proposes to implement a national smart tourism construction project. “Internet + ” becomes a new scene of mass tourism and a new driving force of smart tourism. In China, online tourism consumption has totaled one trillion yuan.12 Tour guide services and management platforms are integrated and upgraded. Guizhou Province launches an online guide resume information database to routinize guide’s work schedule and travel agency’s demand for group business and realize the electronic data of single tours. In some national key tourist attractions, the digital level of public service improves. The Palace Museum upgrades “smart opening” project, which covers map navigation service, online ticket purchase, visit reservation, online shopping, visitor comfort index query and barrier-free route query, and explores the use case of AR live navigation in the Palace Museum. At 2022 Digital China Summit, Yunnan Pavilion displayed “green and beautiful Yunnan” virtual synthesis technology, which allowed visitors to enjoy the beauty of Yunnan through 360 extended reality (XR) real-time matting synthesis technology.13 Online cultural tourism is booming. Based on the digital construction of public service, “Heilongjiang culture and tourism cloud” carries out online activities in an innovative way, so that citizens can watch performances, acquire knowledge and visit exhibition halls without leaving home.

11

Peking University Education Foundation: “PKU’s Cool Tech Enables You to Experience Beijing Winter Olympics in an Immersive Way”, February 24, 2022, http://www.pkuef.org/info/1020/4487. htm. 12 Data Source: National “Internet + Tourism” Development Report 2021 published by Ministry of Culture and Tourism. 13 Digital China Summit: “The Hosting Province Displays Great Strength in Digital Construction”, July 24, 2022, http://www.szzg.gov.cn/2022/xwzx/qwfb/202207/t20220724_5960493.htm.

110

5 The Construction of Digital Society

5.3 The Construction of New-Type Smart City is Continuously Explored and Promoted The Plan for Development of the Digital Economy During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period proposes to promote urban and rural development and governance-model innovation with digitalization, quicken the construction of new-type smart cities at various levels and in different stages, improve urban information model platforms and operation management service platforms, build urban data resources systems, and boost the construction of city data brain. In recent years, local governments at various levels have actively innovated the construction of new-type smart cities, constantly introduced new ideas, technologies and methods, explored the construction of digital twin cities, and continuously improved urban comprehensive management and service capability, so as to sustainably enhance citizens’ sense of happiness and satisfaction.

5.3.1 The Exploration and Construction of Digital Twin City Accelerate China quickly constructs 3D digital board of smart cities and actively explores the construction of digital twin cities. In June 2021, Ministry of Housing and Urban– Rural Development released Technological Guidelines for Basic Platform of City Information Model (CIM) (Revised Version) to strengthen the guidance on the construction standard of 3D digital board of smart cities in terms of technological implementation. Xiong’an District (Hebei), Shanghai and Zhejiang accelerate the construction of city-level CIM platforms and explore the deployment of digital twin pilot projects. Various regions voluntarily engage in the construction of digital twin cities. Shanghai clarifies the orientation of urban functions in the digital era, strengthens the digital public supply of software-hardware coordination, and accelerates the evolution of urban form to digital twin. New Port Area pilots the construction of a digital twin city and builds a demonstration zone for the digital transformation of Shanghai. Zhejiang publishes the first group of pilot list of the construction of digital twin cities and applies digital twin technology to ten major fields, such as metro safety management and large-scale transportation-hub safety management. Shenzhen builds a visual urban spatial digital platform to explore the construction of digital twin cities. Tianjin proposes to accelerate the construction of CIM platform and promote its wide application in the fields of urban health check-up, urban safety, project management and housing management. Guangzhou quickens the empowerment of CIM platform to ecological environment, public security, public transport,

5.3 The Construction of New-Type Smart City is Continuously Explored …

111

government service and jurisdiction and realizes urban optimized and intelligent management.14

5.3.2 Relevant Departments Implement the Management and Operation Model of “Unified Management via Internet” “Unified management via Internet” signals an innovation in the new model of smartcity overall intelligent governance. Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, together with relevant departments, actively promotes social experiment of AI in key fields closely related to people’s livelihood (e.g. education, healthcare, eldercare, community governance and urban management), and explores a Chinese path of intelligent social governance with pioneering spirit. In 2021, in order to further combine social experiments with local governance practices, ten national comprehensive bases and 82 characteristic bases for smart social governance experiments were established, and an intelligent social governance experiment scene was built, which explored the models, regulations, standards, policy systems and institutional mechanisms in the operation of smart society. With positive results, this provided valuable experience for the introduction of standards, regulations, policies and measures in the future. Ministry of Civil Affairs accelerates the online operation of “Jinmin Project” Eldercare Service Information System, which integrates services and creates a “network” of public services at the grass-roots level. Shanghai, Zhejiang and Chengdu step up efforts to connect various chains of smart city governance and play a positive role in exploring “unified urban management via Internet”. Fujian improves the service of smart water conservancy supervision, develops the “3 + N” architecture water conservancy comprehensive business platform based on data center and chart-based comprehensive supporting platform, and initially builds a water conservancy comprehensive supervision system for integrated supervision of water conservancy industry and “air-ground integrated” supervision of water and soil conservation. This effectively promotes the optimization of water conservancy business supervision procedures and the collaborative innovation of business. Shenzhen uses information technologies like big data, cloud computing and AI to forge the “strongest city brain”, which connects 42 business systems including jurisdiction, public security, transportation, safety supervision, fire protection and environmental protection, as well as more than 100 types of data and more than 280,000 monitoring videos, forming a city-district-subdistrict three-level linkage command system.15 14

Data Source: White Paper on Digital Twin City 2021 published by China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). 15 www.gov.cn: “Various Regions Accelerate the Construction of New-Type Smart Cities, Which Better Benefits Citizens with Digital Means”, November 5, 2021, http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/202111/05/content_5648959.htm.

112

5 The Construction of Digital Society

5.3.3 The Construction of Smart Community Speeds up Ministry of Civil Affairs and other eight departments issue Guiding Opinions on Deepening the Construction of Smart Community. As stated, in the construction of smart community, relevant departments should deepen the application of information technologies like IoT, big data, cloud computing and AI, act in line with the development requirements of smart cities and modern communities, give play to the role of community digital platforms and offline community service agencies, intensively build smart service circles for the convenience of citizens, and provide online-offline integrated community life service, community governance and public service and smart community service, so as to make communities more harmonious and orderly and services more people-oriented and enhance citizens’ sense of gain, happiness and security in a sustainable way. Besides, various regions actively implement the requirements of the Guiding Opinions and build or improve information systems, in a bid to promote the intensive planning of public service resources, boost “Internet + community services”, raise the intelligent level of community services, explore “Internet + citizens’ autonomy”, encourage community citizens to participate in community governance, and improve digital community services. 1. Building Information Systems and Promoting the Intensive Planning of Public Information Resources Focusing on the ecological construction of smart communities, various regions rely on existing platforms, and advance the construction of a smart community comprehensive information platform according to local conditions. In the first half of 2022, Hebei utilizes the comprehensive information management platform of civil affairs and builds a provincial community day-care information management system. This realizes online management of 4717 communities, 4991 day-care institutions and more than two million pieces of community elderly information in Hebei, and comprehensively improves the construction level of civil affairs and smart communities. Zhejiang promotes the construction of “future community”, explores the integration of digital “planning + construction + operation”, takes the establishment of a long-term operation system as the core, creates “platform + housekeeper” model of future community, and integrates government resources. Additionally, Zhejiang achieves resource intensive planning with the help of market-oriented operation, reduces costs and increases efficiency via digital precision services, innovates the access to services for citizens, and accelerates the construction of basic unit of common prosperity and modernization by dint of service platforms. 2. Accelerating “Internet + Community Services” and Improving the Intelligent Level of Community Service On the basis of a smart community comprehensive information platform, various regions innovate the models of government services and public services, quicken the promotion of services like “Internet + community government services” and “Internet + community businesses”, and achieve “handling affairs online” and “handling affairs in local departments” in terms of services for people’s livelihood.

5.4 The Construction of “Digital Village” Progresses Steadily

113

Sichuan vigorously implements the action of “Internet + community” and builds smart tech-based communities, which continuously improves intelligent and convenient community services. Qixia District of Nanjing develops and builds “app-based cloud community”, realizes the full coverage of 126 communities in the district, and constructs a network for community prevention of the pandemic, which effectively addresses the problems of asymmetric pandemic prevention information, insufficient community personnel and inadequate livelihood security in pandemic prevention and control. Shandong makes breakthroughs in the construction of smart communities, establishes Shandong Smart Community Ecological Alliance, releases the list of smart community construction tasks and requirements, and conducts supply–demand connection activities. 3. Exploring “Internet + Citizen’s Autonomy” and Encouraging Community Citizens to Participate in Community Governance The model of “Internet + citizens’ autonomy” encourages community citizens to actively participate in community governance and provides new experience for improving intelligent social governance at the grass-roots level. Jiangsu cultivates two county-level and five town (subdistrict)-level “Internet + community governance” demonstration innovation centers, which set up an example for building an intelligent social governance model at the grass-roots level. Urban and rural community citizens are encouraged to participate in community governance with information technology. Under national guidance, various regions use information platforms like QQ groups, WeChat groups, WeChat official accounts and community apps, create interactive communication spaces of “suggestions from community citizens” and “community forums”, and establish mechanisms for handling community citizens’ opinions, suggestions and complaints. “Neighborhood circle” is formed to guide citizens to use social platforms to improve interpersonal communication and build harmonious neighborhood relations, increase the depth and scope of citizens’ participation in community affairs, encourage citizens to participate in community consultation activities, organize neighborhood mutual assistance, and cultivate citizens’ public spirit.

5.4 The Construction of “Digital Village” Progresses Steadily “Digital village” not only represents the strategic direction of rural revitalization, but also constitutes an important part in the construction of “digital China”. In recent years, various regions in China have actively promoted the construction of “digital village”, continuously strengthened policy guidance and support, constantly improved infrastructure, established an inclusive mechanism for agricultural information services, boosted the digital transformation of rural governance services, accelerated the channeling of government services to local regions, and empowered rural construction with digital technology.

114

5 The Construction of Digital Society

5.4.1 Policy Guidance and Support Are Continuously Strengthened In September 2021, seven departments, including Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly issued The Guides for the Construction of Digital Village 1.0, which proposed overall architecture and exemplary use cases in the construction of digital village, and provided guidance for the implementation of the construction of digital villages in various regions. National Rural Revitalization Administration issued The Notice on Consolidating and Expanding the Achievements of Poverty Alleviation at the County Level and the Construction and Management of Rural Revitalization Project Library to guide various regions to incorporate digital village construction projects into the project library. In 2021, there were 2856 digital village construction projects, with a capital scale of 13.312 billion yuan. In January 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and other nine departments issued The Action Plan for the Development of Digital Village 2022–2025, which deployed eight key actions, including digital infrastructure upgrading action, smart agriculture innovation and development action, new business forms and new models development action, digital governance capability improvement action, and rural Internet culture revitalization action. The timetable and roadmap for building a rural digital governance system were clarified in two stages. In April 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and other ministries and commissions jointly issued The Key Points for the Development of Digital Village in 2022, which deployed 30 key tasks in 10 aspects, including building a digital barrier for food security, continuously consolidating and improving the effectiveness of online assistance, and quickly making up deficiencies in digital infrastructure. As required, relevant departments should give full play to the driving and empowering role of informatization in rural revitalization, speed up the construction of a digital economic system that leads rural industries, build a digital governance system that adapts to the integrated development of urban and rural areas, and constantly promote new progress in rural revitalization.

5.4.2 Digital Village Infrastructure Continues to Improve In recent years, the construction of digital infrastructure in rural areas of China has further improved, and provided robust support for the development of digital villages and the improvement of governance efficiency. According to The 50th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC, on the basis of the realization of “broadband access to all administrative villages in China” in 2021, China achieved “5G access to all counties” in the first half of 2022. In the first half of 2022, in China, the number of rural Internet users totaled 293 million, and the

5.4 The Construction of “Digital Village” Progresses Steadily

115

Internet penetration rate in rural areas reached 58.8%, up 1.2% over December 2021. In China, rural Internet infrastructure construction is fully covered, digital technology is widely used in rural production, and rural e-commerce is promoted rapidly. This provides favorable conditions for improving the scale of rural Internet users, bridging the digital divide, and accelerating rural revitalization. According to local realities, various administrative villages actively build rural information infrastructure and improve rural digitalization and informatization. By May 2022, in Liaoning, the optical fiber access rate in 1121 administrative villages reached 100%, the 4G communication network coverage rate realized 100%, and the 5G network coverage rate exceeded 99% in villages and towns. About 1000 rural repeaters were transformed, and about 350,000 rural broadband households were added. Network was transformed in nearly 50,000 households, and more than 4.5 million households were covered by rural FTTP. In Sichuan, the coverage rate of rural optical fiber network reached 96%, and the coverage rate of 4G communication network exceeded 98%, with 45,000 5G base stations built. In Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, more than 99% administrative villages were covered by broadband network. Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region implemented “broadband village project”, built a five-level optical fiber network at the district, city, county, town and village levels, and achieved full coverage of cable TV in 2234 administrative villages in 250 towns, with broadband network bandwidth reaching more than 50 MHz.

5.4.3 The Modernization of Rural Governance is Boosted by Digital Technology Various regions actively promote rural digital governance and deepen the integration of agricultural and rural construction with digital development. The role of “handling affairs with data to save citizens’ time” becomes more prominent. “Internet + government services” continuously extends to rural areas. As the agricultural and rural data resources collection system further improves, the application fields of the big data system expands, and the level of data resources sharing, business collaboration and data opening further rises. Since its launch, the government information resources sharing platform of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has received more than 50 million visits annually.16 Government service agencies at various regions cover a wider range of administrative villages, and the probability of town (subdistrict) level online-handled government service matters enlarges. In Guangdong, the construction of “Yue Zhi Zhu” government service self-service machine aims to realize full coverage of administrative villages. The special action completes the “last mile” of government services and makes up the deficiencies of government services in rural areas. By April 2022, “Yue Zhi Zhu” government service self-service platform had covered all administrative villages in 21 prefecture-level cities in Guangdong Province, including 211 high-frequency government service 16

Data Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

116

5 The Construction of Digital Society

matters in more than 30 departments, such as public security, jurisdiction, human resources and social security, medical insurance, civil affairs and taxation, with a total business volume of 22.68 million and an average daily business volume of 130,000.17 The role of digital technology in the construction of smart green villages becomes increasingly prominent. With information technology, a series of platforms for the improvement of living environment in rural areas, dynamic monitoring of water and soil loss and rural river and lake governance are gradually established. The smart green information system for the construction of rural ecological environment further improves, with remarkable progress made in the construction of smart green villages. Shandong builds agricultural product quality and safety supervision and traceability information platform and rural environment management subsystem of the ecological environment big data platform. Qinghai builds an integrated management platform and data center for the traceability of yak and Tibetan sheep at the provincial, prefecture and county levels. The traceability project of the origin of yak and Tibetan sheep covers all counties and districts in the province, and rural digital governance capability further improves. Information technology and rural governance are deeply integrated. In 2021, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs signed strategic cooperation agreements with China Telecom Group and China Tower Corporation to promote the use of digital platforms like “Xiang Cun Ding” and “Cun Cun Xiang” to strengthen and improve rural governance. The proportion of online publicity of village affairs and finance in local administrative villages steadily increases, and public security video monitoring network covers many administrative villages. Jiaoling County (Meizhou City, Guangdong Province), Deqing County (Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province) and Changde City and Yiyang City (Hunan Province) deploy “points + ” micro-governance apps and “a map of digital village”, so as to achieve accurate and effective management of security, population, pandemic-prevention information and other data. In 2021, Ninghai County (Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province) and Lianyuan City (Loudi City, Hunan Province) strengthened the construction of government information platforms and websites, improved the digitalization of policy openness, Party conduct and integrity and rural revenue and expenditure information, effectively raised the legalization of rural governance, and bolstered the prevention, control and supervision mechanism of rural small-micro power risks with “Internet + ” model. “Internet + Party building” in rural areas further advances. Many towns (subdistricts) carry out Party member management, Party member education or online Party organization activities via Party building information platform. Liaoning uses Liaoshen Smart Party Building Cloud Platform to promote “Internet + Party building” at the grass-roots level. By June 2022, 5827 rural Party organizations had used the platform and trained more than 8000 administrative staff at various levels. New

17

Guangdong Provincial Administration of Government Service Data: “Guangdong Promotes High-Frequency Government Service Self-Service on ‘Yue Zhi Zhu’ Platform in Rural Areas”, April 19, 2022, http://zfsg.gd.gov.cn/xxfb/mtbd/content/post_3914817.html.

5.6 New Pictures of Digital Life Shared by All People Are Continuously …

117

media e-commerce application and training were organized, and 25,000 rural cadres were trained.

5.5 The Service of “Benefiting Citizens with Digital Means” in Rural Areas Improves Presently, such problems as backward service resources and aging rural population remain serious in rural areas. Some regions adopt information technologies and approaches to enrich and improve rural service models. High-quality resources are channeled to rural areas in an online way. The level of equalization and inclusiveness of medical resources continues to improve. Gaoping City (Shanxi Province) utilizes 5G in information-based medical reform. 16 town health centers introduce “Zhi Yi Zhu Li” diagnostic system and firstly conduct “5G remote ultrasound” demonstration in town health centers, so that citizens can enjoy efficient and high-quality medical services at home. The construction of rural education informatization achieves remarkable results. Xixia District, Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region relies on Ningxia Education Cloud Platform to build 37 functional classrooms like paper–pencil smart classroom, intelligent calligraphy classroom and intelligent piano classroom. This helps teachers’ professional development and students’ healthy growth. Digital technology is used to enhance offline service capabilities. Linying County (Henan Province) sets up a county-level public digital service platform “Linying Cultural Tourism” to provide “one-stop” and “order-based” public digital cultural services and offline promotional activities to citizens in rural areas. In this way, rural citizens can enjoy more comprehensive and convenient digital cultural services. Dazu District (Chongqing) builds a new model of eldercare in rural communities that comprises “village (citizen) committee + home-based eldercare service + integrated medical and nursing service + social voluntary service”, with the satisfaction degree of elderly-service evaluation reaching 99.9%.

5.6 New Pictures of Digital Life Shared by All People Are Continuously Constructed The ever-changing digital technologies not only reshape the landscape of the times, but also create a digital gap that cannot be ignored. To realize better digital life shared by all people, relevant departments should vigorously build new-type smart cities and digital villages, improve citizens’ digital literacy and promote digital inclusive development. Various regions actively promote the development of new-type digital life, strengthen the education and training of digital skills for all people, accelerate

118

5 The Construction of Digital Society

the construction of information accessibility, and facilitate the whole society to share digital life.

5.6.1 Relevant Departments Improve the Digital Literacy of All People In October 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission issued The Action Outline of Improving the Digital Literacy and Skills of All People, which made decisions and overall arrangements for the implementation of digital literacy and skills improvement of all people. Centering on four use cases of digital life, digital learning, digital work and digital innovation, the Action Outline targets the elderly, the disabled, industrial workers, farmers and other key groups, and deploys seven major tasks (e.g. diversifying supply of high-quality digital resources, improving the quality of digital life, and raising the efficiency of digital work) as well as six major projects (e.g. barrier-free digital society and elder-friendly transformation and upgrading project). In March 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, in conjunction with relevant ministries and commissions, issued Key Points for Improving Digital Literacy and Skills of All People in 2022, which proposed main indexes such as the quantity of “high-quality courses in basic education” resources, as well as the number of key websites and mobile-app elder-friendly barrier-free transformation. Besides, it specifically deployed 29 key tasks in eight aspects like increasing the supply of high-quality digital resources, and clarified the direction for improving digital literacy and skills of all people in the future. In July 2022, the event “National Digital Literacy and Skills of All People Improvement Month 2022” was officially launched. With the theme of “digital empowerment, shared by all people”, organizers held a series of activities such as the opening and sharing of digital education and training resources, digital volunteer activities for the elderly and the disabled, and digital-skill training in communities. This helped to further enrich the supply of digital resources, expand digital use cases, improve digital cultivation systems, and optimize the environment for digital development. Accordingly, a strong atmosphere can be created, in which the whole society attached extensive attention to and actively participated in the event. In this way, all people jointly built and shared the achievements of digital development. Relevant departments build community digital literacy learning space for the elderly. In November 2021, China Internet Development Foundation initiated “Bridging the Digital Divide: Community Digital Literacy Education Demonstration Project”. With the support of community workstations in Beijing and Chengdu, the project continuously provided special training courses and instructions in relation to Internet application in major life scenes to the elderly in ten communities. The training helped the elderly to obtain knowledge on information security, learn the use of socializing software, and master necessary life skills such as health code checking, online settlement, online shopping, online car-hailing and appointment

5.6 New Pictures of Digital Life Shared by All People Are Continuously …

119

registration. It also assisted the elderly in better integrating into modern life and accumulated valuable experience in building a model that can continuously improve the informatization and digital literacy of the elderly. Various regions release documents like action plans and codes of conduct, hold various forms of exchanges, seminars, lectures, training and other activities, and lead digital literacy and skills improvement action among all people. In December 2021, Shandong issued The Implementation Plan for the Action of Improving Digital Literacy and Skills of All People, which led and promoted organizations, political and legal circles and educational community and other fields to actively carry out digital literacy and skills improvement action. The implementation plan focuses on public servants, entrepreneurs and digital talent teams and carries out a series of training activities. Relevant departments stage Taishan Science and Technology Forum with the theme of “cultivating high-end digital talents” to provide intellectual support for digital transformation, develop an action plan for digital-skill training in communities, and continuously expand the coverage of the improvement of digital literacy and skills. In 2022, Chongqing opened a special training course on digital literacy of cadres to accelerate the improvement of digital governance capabilities of cadres and civil servants, built digital learning service platforms, guided colleges and certification-issuance institutions to design courses, resources and services that met the credit bank, and conducted the accumulation and transformation of learning achievements. Additionally, Chongqing improves digital-skill vocational education and training, optimizes and adjusts professional catalog of vocational education in a dynamic way, promotes the construction of digital technology-related colleges and majors listed in “Double High-Level Plan”, and organizes the level identification of digital technology-related occupations (types of work).

5.6.2 Digitalization Boosts Inclusive Development In order to create favorable conditions for promoting the equalization of basic public services in urban and rural areas, various regions comprehensively implement elderfriendly transformation of public services and the action of Internet-accessibility transformation, optimize key use cases of public services, help the elderly and the disabled to bridge the digital divide, cultivate standardized intelligent eldercare services, promote the rapid development of the informatization of the cause for the disabled, and effectively meet the needs of the elderly and the disabled. By June 2022, 452 websites and apps had completed elder-friendly transformation and accessibility evaluation. Various regions strive to bridge the digital divide and promote the elder-friendly transformation. In order to solve the problem of digital divide among the elderly, the national integrated government service platform completes the elder-friendly transformation, establishes the special section for the elderly to handle affairs, and collects more than 20 high-frequency services like social security, medical insurance and pandemic prevention, so that the elderly, the disabled and other groups can easily

120

5 The Construction of Digital Society

enjoy online services. Simultaneously, national integrated government service platform supports the trusted handling and query of “voice search service” and “service for family members” and starts “service for the elderly” to make government services on apps more people-oriented. Various regions vigorously promote the information-based accessibility-oriented transformation. As an important part of the construction of digital government, smart city and digital village, information accessibility is included in civilized city construction index. In terms of new-type urbanization, the renovation of rural residential environment, the transformation of urban old residential community and community construction, accessibility-oriented construction and transformation are quickened in a coordinated way. To improve accessibility-oriented transformation in the families with the disabled, “intelligent accessibility-oriented transformation project of families with the disabled” is carried out, and accessibility-oriented information service platform for hearing or speech impaired people is built, in which digital and intelligent approaches boost the high-quality development of the cause for the disabled. Meanwhile, various regions actively explore “Internet + ” help-the-disabled service model. For example, Heilongjiang generally realizes “data-source corresponding model” of basic data of the disabled, and initially achieves “one case for one person” service response for the disabled, enabling the disabled to handle affairs in a more convenient, faster and satisfactory way. Various regions actively explore smart eldercare. In The Plan for National Information Technology During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period, “Smart Eldercare Service Expansion Action” is taken as a priority action. As clarified, by 2025, the difficulties of the elderly in using intelligent technology will be solved, the level of a digital and intelligent eldercare service system will be significantly improved, the smart eldercare market will be remarkably developed, and the industrial ecology will be made more healthy and complete. Governments at various levels energetically take measures to continuously expand smart eldercare services. Heilongjiang builds a smart eldercare platform, opens 5G video service hotline for citizens, and provides video consultation, television hospital, drug distribution and other services. Fujian provincial comprehensive eldercare service information platform collects the information from more than 1000 eldercare institutions, 13,000 community service facilities, 14,000 nursing staff and 42,200 older citizens in the province, forming a “eldercare map” that provides inquiry and choice services for the elderly and their families. Hainan promotes “Internet + eldercare”, determines Haikou as the first pilot city of “Time Bank” smart eldercare, and explores the relay-type volunteer service model of “volunteer service for young people and preferential service for the elderly”. A total of 61 volunteer service activities are organized, serving older adults more than 2000 times. Smart eldercare service platforms for home-based communities are built. Eldercare service network that features a clear structure, complementary functions and regional linkage is built at the levels of city and county, subdistrict (town) and urban and rural community. Totally, 28 regional eldercare service centers are established in the province.

5.7 “Digital Anti-pandemic” Achieves Remarkable Results

121

5.7 “Digital Anti-pandemic” Achieves Remarkable Results Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have attached great importance to the prevention and control of the pandemic and made a series of arrangements. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes that “we should encourage the use of big data, AI, cloud computing and other digital technologies, which play a better supporting role in pandemic monitoring and analysis, virus tracing, pandemic prevention and control and treatment, and resource allocation”. Faced with new challenges of normal pandemic prevention and control, governments, society and enterprises at various levels have actively adjusted their response strategies, improved the means of anti-pandemic, and used emerging technologies, enhanced “digital anti-pandemic” capabilities, and achieved positive results.

5.7.1 Governments Promote the Sharing of Pandemic Prevention Data and Strengthen the Release of Authoritative Information 1. Governments at Various Levels Build and Improve Government Service Platform for the Pandemic Prevention and Control As the construction and application of the national sharing system advance in an orderly way, a national integrated government service platform and a national data sharing and exchange platform are built and improved, and provincial and municipal data sharing systems are formed. This realizes gradual integration and sharing of data from various ministries and commissions and regions, and provides effective assistance for the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. The national integrated government service platform robustly boosts the sharing of pandemic prevention data. According to relevant data of General Office of the State Council, by June 2022, the national integrated government service platform had collected the pandemic prevention and control data in such fields as healthcare, civil aviation and railway, and shared the data of confirmed cases, nucleic acid testing, vaccination and other data to regions and departments more than 230 billion times, which basically met the demand for data sharing of joint pandemic prevention and control. The national government service platform supports 24-h services in the pandemic. In 2021, the platform launched a series of service sections for small and micro enterprises and self-employed businesses, for the pandemic prevention and control and the resumption of work and production, and for employment. In 2022, the platform opened 15 service topics, including the pandemic prevention and control and the resumption of work and production, collected more than 10,000 relevant policies from local departments, connected more than 700 service affairs, and received more

122

5 The Construction of Digital Society

than six billion visits in total, providing “non-contact” services for enterprises and citizens. By June 2022, the platform had collected and supported information sharing and exchange of “health codes” in various regions more than 64.8 billion times, promoted “health code pass” in various regions, and launched “pandemic prevention health information code”, which was totally used by 11.6 billion people.18 Various regions explore the establishment and improvement of information systems to help prevent and control the pandemic and resume production. Tianjin initiates a full-cycle troubleshooting service management system to realize the fullcycle full-chain closed-loop management of the data of personnel with pandemicrelated risks (i.e. data pushing, receiving, allocation, management and feedback). By June 2022, the system had screened the data of personnel with pandemic-related risks 9.73 million times. Shandong improves the construction and management mechanism of the pandemic prevention and control information system, uses mobile phone signaling data, truck traffic, corporate power consumption and other data in a coordinated way, and understands personnel flow and corporate resumption of work and production with big data monitoring and analysis. Guangdong Provincial Health Commission develops “Pandemic Sentinel Information Management System” for private clinics and outpatient departments, which now covers 18,000 institutions and 25,000 doctor registration systems in 21 prefecture-level cities in Guangdong Province.19 Relevant departments promote the standardized management of health codes in an orderly manner and realize “one type of health code in one province”. On the basis of investigation and research, experience accumulation and supervision and rectification, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission revises the measures of health code management to meet the practical needs of the safe and stable operation of health code systems, one code pass and data security protection. In order to promote the “unified mutual recognition” and “one code in one province” of provincial health codes, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission actively realizes the integration of health codes in Shaanxi into “Shaanxi One Code Pass”, guides Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps to replace its health code with “Xinjiang Government Service Health Code” in a progressive way, steadily promotes the integration of health codes in Guangdong and Henan provinces, and optimizes overall management of health codes. Simultaneously, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission continues to guide and urge various regions to rectify or improve problems in health code systems, effectively prevent user access anomalies caused by insufficient system capacity, unreasonable architecture and network-link bottlenecks in many provinces, and research and formulate relevant standards for the safe and stable operation of health code systems, so as to ensure the safe and stable operation of the health code system and strongly support the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

18

Data Source: General Office of the State Council. Data Source: Health Resources and Medical Services Briefing of Guangdong Province in 2021 published by Guangdong Provincial Health Commission.

19

5.7 “Digital Anti-pandemic” Achieves Remarkable Results

123

2. Authoritative Information Is Disseminated Through Multiple Channels and Platforms The State Council and local governmental websites, new media and press conferences become multi-channel voice platforms for government information disclosure. According to relevant statistical data of General Office of the State Council, from January 2021 to June 2022, governmental websites and new media at various levels took the initiative to strengthen the release of pandemic information, with a total of more than 35.66 million articles published. General Office of the State Council launches the section of “pandemic prevention and control policies and measures in various regions” on the portals of central government and the client-end and applet of the State Council, and uniformly publicizes the prevention and control policies and measures closely related to people’s life (e.g. travel, education, diagnosis and treatment and entertainment) as well as three-level prevention and control consultation hotlines at provincial, municipal and county levels in various provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. Besides, General Office of the State Council develops and launches “point-to-point” real-time query app of online travel policies. Totally used by more than 600 million people, the app realizes the “query via Internet” and “one-website publicity” of the pandemic prevention and control policies and measures, and helps to solve the problem of citizens’ inter-regional travel. The client-end applet of the State Council collects pandemic prevention services such as “pandemic risk-level inquiry”, “pandemic prevention and control itinerary card” and “nucleic acid test result inquiry”, with a cumulative total of more than 15 billion visits. The Chinese-English version of the official website of National Health Commission and its government service new media platform establish special pages for the pandemic prevention and control, release daily information on the pandemic, interpret relevant policies and measures, introduce the progress of China’s combat against the pandemic, popularize scientific knowledge on the pandemic prevention and control, and refute rumors and false information. Governmental websites and government service media platforms of various provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government timely release local pandemic information and prevention and control measures, vigorously popularize emergency knowledge, and guide the public to rationally view the pandemic, protect themselves well, and eliminate the fear of the pandemic. Fujian makes anti-pandemic arrangements on provincial news websites and client-ends, and sets up special sections on conspicuous pages such as “Fujian Zhan Yi” “Zhongzhi Chengcheng Tongxin Kangyi” and “Quanli Yifu Tongxin Kangyi”, which collect and display the dynamics of the pandemic, the progress in the pandemic prevention and control and policies and measures of governments at various levels.

124

5 The Construction of Digital Society

5.7.2 Social Organizations Participate in the Pandemic Prevention and Control 1. Social Organizations Serve as a Medium and Participate in the Pandemic Prevention and Control with the Help of Information Platforms Since the outbreak of the pandemic, local social organizations have engaged in the pandemic prevention and control with the help of information platforms, and advocated concerted efforts of all sectors to create a good Internet environment for the pandemic prevention and control. In December 2021, Xi’an Social Work Association built Xi’an “cloud social work” platform, which integrated information and resources from volunteers, community pandemic prevention requirements and social donations, and provided strong support for the report of volunteers’ work. In March 2022, Jilin Huayi Love Volunteer Association formed a volunteer anti-pandemic cooperation platform. In architecture, the platform consists of volunteer recruitment team, training team, material support team, medical service team and Q and A team, which significantly augmented the recognition and cohesion among volunteers. 2. Some Research Institutes Are Committed to the Research of Algorithmic Models and the Construction of Data Sharing Platforms Some university researchers actively take part in scientific research on the pandemic prevention and control, and achieve remarkable results. In July 2022, Shanghai University successfully developed a full-automatic nucleic acid sampling robot, which can complete a nucleic acid sampling in only 22 s, and provide services 24 h every day. The robot features “full automation, non-contact, large flux, high speed and cloud monitoring” and realizes real “full automation”. Besides, its intelligent and friendly human–machine interface for audio and video can optimize the experience of the sampled people.20 Since its launch, RCoV19, developed by National Genomics Data Center of Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has collected, integrated and shared global virus genome data to monitor the evolution and variation of viruses. By January 2022, RCoV19 had recorded more than 6.89 million pieces of non-redundant genome sequence information worldwide, collected 228,000 pieces of COVID-19-related literature information, and provided data services to c. 1.4 million visitors in 179 countries or regions in the world. With a data download totaling 2.13 billion times, RCoV19 updates the latest and most complete COVID-19 genome data dynamically and furnishes strong support for Chinese and world researchers to tackle key scientific and technological problems related to the COVID-19.21 20 www.jyb.cn: “Shanghai University Successfully Developed an Automatic Nucleic Acid Sampling Robot”, July 12, 2022, http://www.jyb.cn/rmtzcg/xwy/wzxw/202207/t20220712_700832.html. 21 Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences: “The Scientific Research of Beijing Institute of Genomics on Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic Selected as a Highlight in Scientific and Technological Innovation of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2021”, January 12, 2022, http:// www.big.cas.cn/xwdt/kyjz/202201/t20220112_6339738.html.

5.7 “Digital Anti-pandemic” Achieves Remarkable Results

125

5.7.3 Enterprises Make Contributions to the Pandemic Prevention and Control via Multiple Channels Enterprises strengthen the research and application of algorithms and systems, and promote the pandemic prevention and control based on their digital business, playing an important role in material distribution, rapid temperature measurement and disinfection and inspection. In March 2022, in order to reduce the risk of cross-infection in the isolation sites and mitigate the pressure on front-line medical workers, China Unicom Shanghai Branch urgently deployed hundreds of intelligent-service robots for Lingang and Qingpu makeshift hospitals, as well as 3D modeling visualization systems, which covered the scenes of rigid demand such as indoor and outdoor meal delivery, logistics, disinfection and sterilization, etc. By combining their businesses with the needs of production and life in the pandemic prevention and control, Internet enterprises, e.g. Taobao, DingTalk, Alibaba Local Life, Freshippo and Baidu App, develop special business modules with the theme of pandemic prevention and control. In March 2022, faced with the grimmer picture of the pandemic in Shanghai, Freshippo adopted the model of “base direct procurement + market procurement”, mobilized more than 30,000 mu of cooperative agricultural bases around Shanghai overnight, and supplied Shanghai citizens with 700 tons of fruits and vegetables and 150 tons of meat and poultry every day. Taocaicai, together with Shandong vegetable direct supply bases, transported 500,000 kg of vegetables to Shanghai in three batches. JD Logistics effectively helped partner businesses to stabilize operation, turn the corner, and solve supply-chain problems. In the pandemic, it provided special support policies for businesses in integrated supply chain (including warehouse, distribution, technology and capital), and fully supported the resumption of work, production and business in various industries.

Chapter 6

The Construction of Internet Content

6.1 Outline Over the past year, the construction of Internet content was continuously strengthened. Relevant departments always adhered to the instruction of “the formation of positive energy as general requirement, the progress in Internet governance as top priority, and the use of Internet as core competitiveness”, firmly maintained the initiative and the ability to steer in Internet ideological work, and made the voice of the Party the strongest voice in cyberspace. In 2022, to welcome, publicize and implement the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China became the central work for Internet media. More than 100 major propaganda campaigns on Internet were launched in an orderly and diverse way. Mainstream public opinions on Internet were always consolidated or strengthened, the construction of Internet content was continually deepened, and new trends and social integrity were constantly carried forward. With continuous innovation in the form of overseas dissemination of Chinese image, various websites actively used overseas platforms to tell Chinese stories in innovative forms and shaped a “reliable, admirable and respectable” image of China. Chinese cultural products became more popular and attracted more overseas audiences. In the COVID19 pandemic, media products like teleworking, online education and livestreaming continued to develop and further improved people’s sense of gain. Comprehensive Internet governance achieves remarkable results, Internet ecology continuously improves, various campaigns in Internet governance deeply advance, and the governance model of multi-party collaborative governance further matures, with the priority given to the protection of the minors in Internet governance. Media convergence continues to advance, and media convergence centers at various levels develop in a coordinated way. The functions of media keep enlarging. Media become comprehensive platforms for providing content information, e-government and life services. Additionally, by dint of innovative technology like metaverse, media industry comes to a new stage of immersive media, and “virtual + immersive” model of innovative content production becomes a new trend. © Publishing House of Electronics Industry 2024 China Internet Development Report 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5130-7_6

127

128

6 The Construction of Internet Content

6.2 Significant Achievements Are Made in the Construction of Internet Content Over the past year, the construction of Internet content continuously progressed. On the basis of continuous innovation in cutting-edge technologies, the construction of Internet civilization was carried out in an orderly manner, international dissemination on Internet was promoted steadily, and the form of Internet content products was constantly innovated, with people’s sense of gain enhanced.

6.2.1 Mainstream Media Step up Efforts to Participate in Major Issues and Topics In 2022, major issues, including welcoming, publicizing and implementing the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, became the top priority in the year. Positive energy and mainstream values prevailed. Various topics aroused positive response on domestic and foreign Internet platforms, and the central and local news websites and commercial website platforms worked together to augment the new landscape of content dissemination at home and abroad. 1. Multiple Measures Are Taken to Publicize and Welcome the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Internet on a Grand Scale 2022 saw the opening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Major mainstream media, websites and local media followed closely major issues and carried out full-process, multi-perspective and three-dimensional reporting activities to present the historic achievements and changes since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China comprehensively and panoramically, and create a good atmosphere of Internet public opinions for the victory of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. In 2022, www.xinhuanet.com set up an all-media report topic “Focusing on the Election of the Representatives of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China”, which highlighted the requirements, methods, procedures and results of the election of the representatives, fully interpreted the requirements of the election of the representatives, closely followed up local election work, surveyed and reported specific situation of the participation and nomination of grass-roots Party organizations and the majority of Party members, and broadcast local election work immediately. The website demonstrated in detail how various regions implemented the requirements of the election, such as specifying the qualifications for election, strengthening the investigation of political quality, and emphasizing the integrity of candidates. Besides, the website released reports such as “Strictly Following the Qualifications and Requirements for the Selection of the Best Candidates” and “How to Select the Representatives of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China: The CPC Central Committee Issued Documents”. Centering on the central

6.2 Significant Achievements Are Made in the Construction of Internet Content

129

topic of welcoming, publicizing and implementing the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China Daily presented full-media reports such as “Great Changes”, “Leading the New Era” and “New Look of Old Revolutionary Bases”, and launched a series of new media products like animations and short videos with the theme of “20 Questions on the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China”, which publicized the event in a scientific way and triggered a warm response among Internet users at home and abroad. www.cctv.com launched a series of reports to introduce how Party organizations at various levels earnestly organized and completed the election work, ensured the high-quality completion of the election work of representatives, and welcomed the victory of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Additionally, the work of online opinions and suggestions on the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was in full swing. From April 2022, the work of soliciting opinions on Internet concerning the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was officially staged. www.people.com.cn and other media set up the section “I offer opinions and suggestions for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China” to canvass public opinions on related work. People put forward a lot of valuable opinions and suggestions via opinion-collection sections on various platforms., 2. In Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Hot Topics Continue to Emerge and Display the New Look of China From February to March 2022, Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games were hosted successively. In Beijing Winter Olympics, the content of positive energy achieved good effects in Internet communication and ignited hot discussions at home and abroad. In domestic communication, the positive energy in Chinese stories and the spirit of the Winter Olympics were fully displayed, with hot topics on social media emerging. For example, Chinese athletes embodied the courage to fight and challenge themselves on the field, whose positive image was really admired by the Generation Z. Bing Dwen Dwen and Shuey Rhon Rhon, two mascots with Chinese unique elements, became popular on Internet and were deeply loved by Internet users at home and abroad. At the opening ceremony of Beijing Paralympic Winter Games, the scene in which the representative of visually-impaired athletes lit the cauldron was widely transmitted on Internet, fully demonstrating the spirit of Paralympic Winter Games to the world. Many foreign athletes created personal accounts on Weibo, bilibili and other Chinese social media platforms to release positive content related to Beijing Winter Olympics, which received widespread attention. 3. Mainstream Media Uphold the Principle of “Ensuring Effective COVID-19 Containment”, Strengthen the Guidance of Public Mentality, and Widely Forge the Consensus on the Pandemic Prevention Mainstream media and websites continuously bolstered reports on combating the pandemic, and used multiple platforms and integrated media to enhance wide communication influence and achieve good communication effects. The new media of People’s Daily launched a number of integrated media reports, and produced and

130

6 The Construction of Internet Content

released Ren Shi Jian (The World), a special-version video work dedicated to the combat against the pandemic, which recorded the moving moments of volunteers in the fight against COVID-19 and aroused the sympathy of Internet users. The WeChat official account of CCTV News published a new media work “Why Tianjin People Integrate the Art of Crosstalk into Their Combat Against the Pandemic”, which recounted the stories of Tianjin anti-pandemic volunteers who organized nucleic acid testing with clappers, recorded the hard work beneath their optimism and humor, and attracted wide attention of Internet users. Xinhua Omni-media launched a series of reports titled “To Combat the Pandemic, I Come”, which showed the positive energy of the pandemic prevention in a panoramic way. Internet topics, such as “Good Internet Users in Liaoning in the Anti-Pandemic Campaign”, were continuously pushed, which created a good atmosphere of public opinions for the pandemic prevention and control nationwide. By March 2022, the topic had been read one billion times, with more than 280,000 comments. In the pandemic prevention and control in Shanghai, a positive and orderly atmosphere was formed in Internet communication. Various websites actively performed their duties of publicity and interpretation, enhanced the publicity of the pandemic prevention policies, displayed the progress of the combat against the pandemic, effectively refuted rumors on the Internet, and increased the supply of warm news. From 00:00 on March 2 to 16:00 on June 10, 2022, the number of online reports concerning “the pandemic in Shanghai” reached 9.9706 million, the number of views realized 234.755 billion, and the number of comments totaled 936 million. In the face of complicated and grim situation of the pandemic prevention and control, central and local news websites promptly followed up and reported medical treatment, nucleic acid testing, vaccination and other affairs, and immediately launched relevant articles to announce the progress of recovery and out of quarantine, which ensured that Internet users quickly learned authoritative views, dispelled doubts and overcame fears. Central news websites, together with short video platforms, elaborately designed distinctive sections such as “Fan Ren Wei Guang”, “Xing Huo Cheng Ju” and “Yi Lü Yang Guang”, and created positive energy products such as “The Collective Power of Common Citizens in the Combat Against the Pandemic in Shanghai: Warm Notes”, which vividly presented the anti-pandemic scene of community solidarity and mutual help, and made a concerted effort to combat the pandemic. Besides, mainstream media and websites incontrovertibly refuted rumors, prevented the spread of rumors, timely reported bad behaviors and the results of investigation and punishment, and safeguard the rights and interests of the public. For example, such articles as “Shanghai Continuously Denies Rumors!” “Six People Who Sell Fake Pandemic Prevention Passes Are Investigated and Punished by Shanghai Police”, and “Whoever Pursues Ill-Gotten Gains in the Pandemic Must Take the Consequences” actively restored the truth, resolutely criticized bad behaviors, and guided citizens to build correct values.

6.2 Significant Achievements Are Made in the Construction of Internet Content

131

6.2.2 Significant Achievements Are Made in the Construction of Internet Civilization, and New Trends and Social Integrity Are Constantly Carried Forward 1. The Upsurge of “Managing Internet, Using Internet, Accessing Internet and Developing Internet in a Civilized Way” In November 2021, the First China Internet Civilization Conference was held, with the theme of “Pooling Positive Energy and Building Internet Civilization Together”. The conference released ten major events of the construction of Internet civilization in the new era as well as the initiative to jointly build Internet civilization, comprehensively summarized the experiences and practices of the construction of Internet civilization in China in the new era, generally demonstrated important achievements of the construction of Internet civilization in the new era, fully exchanged the experience of managing and using Internet, and extensively forged the consensus on strengthening and developing Internet. In August 2022, 2022 China Internet Civilization Conference was hosted. With the theme of “Propagating New Trends of the Times and Building Internet Civilization”, the conference focused on building a platform for promoting China’s Internet civilization, exchanging experiences, showcasing achievements and learning from international Internet civilizations. In the conference, main forum, Internet integrity construction summit forum, ten sub-forums, the exhibition of achievements in the construction of Internet civilization in the new era and themed activities of Internet civilization were organized. Noticeably, in ten sub-forums, participants deeply discussed and explored such topics as the construction of Internet content, Internet ecology, the construction of law in cyberspace, the protection of personal information and international exchanges and mutual learning of Internet civilization. Various Internet-civilization construction projects are implemented successively to carry forward mainstream values in cyberspace. Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and other departments continue to implement “Good Internet Users Project in China”, launch themed activities such as “Good Internet Users in Schools”, “Good Internet Users in Financial Industry”, “Good Internet Users Among Employees”, “Good Young Internet Users” and “Good Female Internet Users”, and strengthen Internet publicity and guidance with the theme of “Organizing the Selection of Good Internet Users to Celebrate the Centenary of the Communist Party of China” and “Organizing the Selection of Good Internet Users to Welcome the Two Sessions”. These departments continually implement “Internet Public Service Project”, widely mobilize Internet enterprises, Internet social organizations and Internet users to carry out or engage in the publicity and practice of public service, and vigorously foster and observe the core socialist values. They stage the themed activity of “Chinese Festivals on Internet” to spread traditional festivals, tap cultural significance, humanistic spirit and moral norms in traditional festivals, and improve political awareness, moral level and public quality of Internet users. China Internet Development Foundation and www.gmw.cn carry out the selection activity of “100

132

6 The Construction of Internet Content

Outstanding Accounts in Implementing the Mass Line on Internet”, deeply summarize relevant experience and practices, set up a benchmark for Internet media, and encourage or lead Party and governmental organs and Party cadres at various levels to continuously improve their capabilities in “implementing the mass line on Internet”, with the active participation of all social sectors. Various regions play an active role in fostering Internet civilization, publicizing or promoting Internet positive energy works, creating a good atmosphere for Internet culture, and shaping or purifying cyberspace with new trends of the times. In December 2021, Guangdong held the Conference on Internet Civilization and issued The Commitment to the Action of Jointly Building Internet Civilization, calling on Internet enterprises, Internet social organizations and Internet users to work together to build pure cyberspace.1 In February 2022, Sichuan held a new-year symposium of Internet celebrities. With the theme of “Pooling the Forces of Internet Celebrities and Jointly Building a Homeland of Internet Civilization”, the symposium urged Internet celebrities to strengthen their responsibilities, launch positive energy Internet works, and promote the construction of Internet civilization together.2 In April 2022, Shandong initiated “Good Internet Users in Shandong” Project to comprehensively improve the quality of Internet users by telling typical stories of Internet users, and cultivating their patriotic awareness, the idea of law in cyberspace and the habit of using Internet in a civilized way.3 In June 2022, Hebei collected and broadcast of top 100 stories of Hebei Internet users themed on “jointly building Internet civilization and sharing a civilized Internet”. By telling the stories of good Internet users in Hebei, the event united and led the majority of Internet users in the province to jointly build a beautiful spiritual homeland on Internet.4 2. Internet Dissemination of the Party’s Innovative Theories Is Continuously Strengthened Central news websites and theory websites actively launch various theoretical learning columns to enhance the attractiveness and dissemination of the Party’s theoretical learning and continually enrich online theoretical learning resources. At the beginning of 2022, China Cyberspace, the magazine administrated by Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and sponsored by Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies (CACS), was officially founded and published. As a comprehensive and authoritative journal in the field of national cyberspace affairs, China

1

www.cac.gov.cn: “Guangdong Internet Civilization Conference Was Held in Guangzhou in 2021”, December 29, 2021, http://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-12/29/c_1642381546689878.htm. 2 www.cac.gov.cn: “Pooling the Forces of Internet Celebrities and Jointly Building a Homeland of Internet Civilization: Sichuan Held a New-Year Symposium of Internet Celebrities”, February 17, 2022, http://www.cac.gov.cn/2022-02/17/c_1646703210745295.htm. 3 www.cac.gov.cn: “Strengthening the Construction of Innovation Capability and Promoting the Work in Cyber Affairs in Shandong”, April 13, 2022, http://www.cac.gov.cn/2022-04/13/c_1651 462225869803.htm. 4 www.caheb.gov.cn: “Call for Top 100 Stories of Hebei Internet Users! Deadline: July 30”, July 17, 2022, https://www.mp.weixin.qq.com/s/sVIP7c8aa_WnaIQhaMAnLg.

6.2 Significant Achievements Are Made in the Construction of Internet Content

133

Cyberspace helps national cyberspace front to deepen theoretical studies.5 www. qstheory.cn opens the section of “Li Shang Wang Lai” (Learning and Exchanging Theories on Internet). www.cnr.cn launches the brand column of “Mei Ri Yi Xi Hua” (“Learning President Xi Jinping’s Remarks Every Day”). These promote the idea of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era to be deeply rooted in the hearts of people. “Shi Jian Xin Lun” (New Theories on Practice), an online theory communication column on www.gmw.cn, publishes a series of theoretical articles and new media works to build a new media theory brand, and deepen online publicity of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Central news websites and official accounts of new media actively carry out online publicity activities such as “Seeking Progress while Maintaining Stability @ HighQuality Development” and “Beautiful China”, timely publicize Xi Jinping’s thoughts on economy and ecological civilization via Internet, and solidly promote online publicity and interpretation of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on propaganda and ideological work, important thoughts on Building China into a Cyber Power, and important thoughts on youth work, as well as a series of important discussions such as Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. Mainstream media websites continue to create high-quality columns, introduce authoritative theoretical interpretations, and improve content influence. Theoretical columns, such as “Theoretical Forum” on www.people.com.cn, “Shi Shuo Xin Yu” on www.qstheory.cn and “Economist’s Talk” on www.rmlt.com.cn, invite experts and scholars from authoritative institutions to attend interviews, exchange ideas directly with Internet users, launch a series of expert interpretations, and produce a series of theoretical articles, so as to enlarge brand influence in a sustainable way. In the form of micro-animation and cloud salon, mainstream media innovate communication models in combination with vivid cases at the grass-roots level. For example, www. gmw.cn creates the interpretation column of “Understanding New Leap”, and www. qstheory.cn launches the micro-animation of “The Joy of Knowing Truth”, which make theoretical narration interesting from the perspective of Internet users and in the language of Internet users, and fully introduce the theoretical and practical logic behind China’s achievements and stories. Various websites continue to consolidate and expand the achievements of Party history learning and education, actively explore the use of audio, animation and other methods, and deepen the summary, study, education and publicity of Party history. For example, www.cntheory.com plans and produces the media product “Learning Party History in Reading Tablet Inscriptions”, and www.people.com.cn introduces “Red Cloud Exhibition Hall”, which systematically present the glorious history, major achievements and valuable experience of the Communist Party of China over the past century. 3. Mainstream Media and Websites Actively Spread Positive Energy and Lead New Trends of Internet Civilization

5

www.cac.gov.cn: Zhuang Rongwen’s Foreword to China Cyberspace, March 18, 2022, http:// www.cac.gov.cn/2022-03/18/c_1649210662320960.htm.

134

6 The Construction of Internet Content

Presently, challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic remain grim. Mainstream media and websites voluntarily disseminate positive energy content, guide public opinions, and build cohesion for the construction of Internet civilization. The selection of Internet positive energy is carried out in an orderly manner, and the role of demonstration and guidance is continuously strengthened, which help to form new trends in Internet civilization. In January 2022, “I and China: China’s Positive Energy ‘Five Hundreds’ Excellent Internet Works Annual Release Ceremony” showed the most impressive Internet positive energy builders, as well as texts, pictures, audio and video animations and special activities related to Internet positive energy in 2021, which constantly diversified online content supply and pooled strong spiritual strength. www.wenming.cn sets up the column “Good Samaritans of China 365” to tell the positive energy stories of “Good Samaritans of China” all over the country, such as helping others, acting bravely for a just cause, observing honesty and trustworthiness, staying dedicated to work and remaining filial to the old and loving their relatives, and calls on the public to admire “Good Samaritans of China”. The column has been updated for more than 2200 issues since its opening, which actively spread and promote great deeds and noble spirit, and lead the trends of social civilization. China Internet Development Foundation, together with relevant enterprises, establishes a special fund for Internet communication of positive energy in China to actively boost the construction of positive energy Internet content. Relevant departments energetically promote the health communication of new media and create a clear Internet atmosphere for the popularization of scientific knowledge on the pandemic prevention and control. In May 2022, The Guiding Opinions on Establishing and Improving the Release and Dissemination Mechanisms of the Popularization of Knowledge on Health Science on Omni-Media was released, which provided guidance for health communication. In February 2022, “Hu Xiao Kang”, the WeChat official account of Shanghai Health Science Popularization Expert Database and Resource Database, was officially launched, which popularized various health knowledge by means of cartoons and livestreaming of health lectures, and continuously improved the health literacy of citizens. The WeChat official account of “China Science Communication” continues to report the pandemic situation and spread knowledge on the pandemic prevention, refute rumors in cyberspace, and jointly create a civilized and healthy cyberspace. Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, in collaboration with Ministry of Education, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League and Peking University, organizes Internet themed publicity and interactive guidance activity of “Devoted the Youth to the Cause of Motherland”, and invites famous teachers, heroes and outstanding young students to exchange and share ideas. Relevant websites and platforms launch new media works, display the production of short videos, posters and other products for secondary dissemination, lead the majority of young Internet users to “button the first button in their lifetime”, and arouse strong response on Internet. “2021 China Family Health Conference” supported by China Internet Development Foundation was successfully held with the theme of “Health as Family Values in the New Era”, so that good family values help the construction of “Healthy China” and Internet civilization.

6.2 Significant Achievements Are Made in the Construction of Internet Content

135

6.2.3 Overseas Communication Steadily Advances In recent years, international landscape remains complex and volatile, and regional conflict becomes grim. Under such circumstances, various websites actively engage in overseas communication, tell stories about China and spread the voice of China. Chinese culture attracts more overseas audiences via online products like games, with remarkable effects in overseas communication. 1. Mainstream Media Publicize the Ruling Achievements of the Communist Party of China and Present the Look of the Big Party www.people.com.cn and www.haiwainet.cn organize interview programs “Understanding China” and “The Communist Party of China, a Large Political Party with a 100-Year History, in the Eyes of Ambassadors in China”, interview well-known former politicians, ambassadors in China, scholars, experts or industrial celebrities, and invite them to freely comment on new achievements of the CPC in governance of China. This enhances the correct understanding of China among international community. www.chinadaily.com.cn produces and launches a series of short videos Looking for Answers: An American Communist Explores China. This showcases to overseas Internet users the “systematic code” of the CPC, which keeps growing and embodies vitality over the past century. Provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, including Shaanxi, Hubei, Guizhou, Guangxi, Fujian, Xinjiang, Tianjin and Jiangsu, organize and complete “A Date with China” Internet international communication activities. They invite domestic and foreign media reporters as well as foreign Internet celebrities to widely introduce China’s development achievements in poverty alleviation, rural revitalization, reform and opening up and other aspects. A series of Internet themed activities of “Ten Thousand People Talk About Xinjiang” are continuously carried out. A large number of short videos with diverse forms and rich content are created and launched from the perspective of citizens and in the language of citizens, which are extensively praised, forwarded and commented by Internet users at home and abroad. 2. Mainstream Media Give Full Play to Internet in Telling the Stories of Beijing Winter Olympics and Displaying the Image of a Big Country Central news websites give full play to their advantages and characteristics, actively carry out international communication, combine the concerns of international public opinions, and tell the story of Beijing Winter Olympics in multiple forms, languages and channels. www.people.com.cn takes advantage of multiple languages to report the progress of events to the world in a timely manner and fully show the sportsmanship of athletes from various countries. www.chinadaily.com.cn focuses on building columns like “The World Watches the Winter Olympics” to present the positive comments from international politicians, foreign athletes, overseas Internet users and other people on Beijing Winter Olympics. www.chinanews.com establishes “Ice, Snow and Race in Beijing: World Chinese Media Report Alliance for Beijing Winter Olympics”, which attracts 327 Chinese media in the world to join, and collects

136

6 The Construction of Internet Content

and presents the wonderful reports of Chinese media on Beijing Winter Olympics. www.cri.cn continues to take advantages of studios of foreign Internet celebrities, who personally come to Olympic venues and effectively close the distance between Internet users and Beijing Winter Olympics. 3. Chinese Games and Other Cultural Products Go to Overseas Markets and Disseminate Chinese Culture Chinese online games continuously expand emerging overseas markets, diversify product types, and enhance the competitiveness of games going global. As Chinese games arrive at overseas market, Chinese culture and elements exert increasingly important influence internationally.6 Genshin Impact, an animation game developed by miHoYo Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., has been launched in 175 countries and regions around the world, winning the Best Mobile Game of The Game Awards 2021. Genshin Impact uses traditional operas, poems and other elements to design character pictures, breeding a fashion for Chinese style in international game market. Among them, the game character Yun Jin attracted wide attention from a large number of overseas users to traditional Chinese opera. The number of viewers of relevant trailer programs on Twitch, an overseas livestreaming platform, reaches 538,000, presenting to the world Chinese aesthetics.7 Simultaneously, many Chinese independentlydeveloped games have been successfully staged overseas. In 2021, Chinese games performed well in overseas markets, whose sales revenue achieved 18.013 billion U.S. dollars, with a year-on-year increase of 16.59%. Maintaining a good growth trend in terms of user download, usage market and user payment, Chinese games provide a new path for the overseas dissemination of Chinese culture.8 Overseas crazes for online drama and online literature continue to increase, whose overseas influence keeps expanding. At the beginning of 2022, Reset, a domestic popular online drama, was officially staged on Netflix in April and distributed in different countries or regions, including Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. In June 2022, online drama Meng Hua Lu (A Dream of Splendor), based on Zhao Pan’er Rescuing Her Sister in the Wind and Dust, a Yuan-dynasty drama by Guan Hanqing, sold its IP to TV stations in South Korea, Malaysia and other countries. The drama shows traditional culture of the Song Dynasty and typifies Chinese culture going global. Additionally, the overseas popularity of Chinese online literature further intensifies. By the end of 2021, WebNovel had released around 2100 translated works of Chinese online literature, with around 370,000 overseas original works cultivated. Online literature has expanded from East Asia and Southeast Asia to North America, Europe and Africa.9 6

www.people.com.cn: “China Game Industry Report 2021 Was Officially Published”, December 16, 2021, http://jinbao.people.cn/n1/2021/1216/c421674-32310114.html. 7 Wenhui Daily: “New Cultural Symbols Go Globally, and Genshin Impact Triggers a Craze for Peking Opera Overseas”, January 6, 2022, http://news.hnr.cn/shxw/article/1/147887071761051 6482?source=mobile. 8 WeChat Official Account of SensorTower: White Paper on Domestic Mobile Games Going Global in 2022, June 8, 2022, https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/-fIr1NMFZocc8J-dPUfWNw. 9 www.xinhuanet.com: “Research Report on the Development of Chinese Online Literature in 2021

6.2 Significant Achievements Are Made in the Construction of Internet Content

137

4. Mainstream Media Take Clear Stances in Key Topics and Fully Express China’s Position Confronted with complex international landscape, China has always made clear its position, firmly adhered to the bottom line, and made use of Internet platforms to voice attitudes. Major mainstream media continue to speak on multiple new media platforms at home and abroad, and achieve good communication effects. On the occasion of celebrating the Centenary of the Communist Party of China, www.china.com.cn launches a bilingual micro-video “Do You Understand China?”. With four episodes, it vividly interprets people’s livelihood in China and China’s path in the form of storytelling, data listing and comparison. In response to lies on Xinjiang-related issues such as “forced labor” and “genocide”, www.people.com.cn launches a five-episode documentary to comprehensively record the peaceful and prosperous Xinjiang. The official WeChat platform of People’s Daily releases a short video to introduce the statements of the spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Taiwan-related remarks of relevant countries and clearly express China’s firm position. 2022 saw the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. Various mainstream media and central news websites continued to launch a series of new media reports on overseas platforms, and vividly demonstrated Hong Kong’s achieving a return to order, as well as the success of the policy “One Country, Two Systems” that won global recognition. www.xinhuanet.com planned and produced the works such as Red Over Hong Kong and The Strongest Voice of Anti-Hong Kong Independence and Promoting Unification, which introduced the rich practice and valuable experience of the policy “One Country, Two Systems”, with more than 100 million visits from all channels.

6.2.4 Internet Content Products Meet Users’ Needs in the COVID-19 Pandemic Against the background of the pandemic, working and learning at home become the normal state for many people, and related demands keep growing. Innovative development is realized in teleworking software and educational platform, and content products like short video, livestreaming and game industry are continuously updated, which meet relevant needs of consumers. Table 6.1 shows the user scale and utilization rate of various Internet apps from June 2021 to June 2022. 1. Teleworking Software Is Continually Innovated and Upgraded to Serve Production and Life Various kinds of teleworking software have been widely used and deeply integrated with daily work. Teleworking industry develops steadily and continuously upgrades Was Released”, April 13, 2022, http://www.xinhuanet.com/book/20220413/3e607a0c4cc64632ad bf8c60cd3c7564/c.html.

138

6 The Construction of Internet Content

Table 6.1 The user scale and utilization rate of various internet apps from June 2021 to June 2022 among internet users Internet apps

June 2021 User Scale/ 100 million people

June 2022 Utilization rate (%)

user Scale/ 100 Million people

Utilization rate (%)

Growth rate (%)

Telemedicine

2.39

23.70

3.00

28.5

38.70

Teleworking

3.81

37.70

4.61

43.8

35.70

Short Video

8.88

87.80

9.62

91.5

7.00

Livestreaming

6.38

63.10

7.16

68.1

14

Online Game

5.10

50.40

5.52

52.6

6.90

Data Source The 50th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC

user experience. By June 2022, in China, the number of teleworking users reached 461 million, accounting for 43.8% of the total number of Internet users.10 As the latest data of QuestMobile suggested, in July 2022, the monthly active users of DingTalk was 191 million, the monthly active users of WeChat for Business was 95.99 million, and the monthly active users of Feishu was 7.34 million. Users were mainly employees. 2. The Interactive Development of Online and Offline Education Catalyzes New Teaching Methods Online education transfers educational environment from traditional classroom to online platform, enriches educational resources and breaks the space–time limit of education. Particularly, with the development of AI, big data and other technologies, the effect of online classroom will be further improved. Meanwhile, educational industry is beset by such problems as excessive expansion and capitalization. For this reason, China takes measures to regulate the development of online education industry toward a healthy direction. In March 2022, the national smart education platform was launched. The platform collects massive course resources. Since its launch, the supply of various highquality digital resources has been expanding, and the number of views has been increasing. By July 12, 2022, the total number of views exceeded 3.03 billion, and the total number of visitors reached 430 million. Specifically, primary and secondary school platforms accumulate 34,000 pieces of resources, 3.1 times as many as before the launch. Since its launch, the daily average number of views has reached 28.91 million. In May 2022, the maximum daily views totaled 89.97 million, which effectively eased the burden of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring for students, and robustly supported “teaching and learning in suspension of classes” in the combat against the pandemic in various regions. The content of online classes constantly diversifies and becomes an effective way for knowledge popularization and other work. For example, space-based lecture on Shenzhou-13 10

Data Source: The 50th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC.

6.2 Significant Achievements Are Made in the Construction of Internet Content

139

has been opened twice, which receives widespread attention on social media platforms, expands the content and form of online learning, and promotes the teaching and dissemination of scientific knowledge. In October 2021, “Online Cloud Classroom for Cybersecurity” was officially launched on the official WeChat account of “2021 National Cybersecurity Publicity Week”. Several experts on cybersecurity were invited to produce more than 30 courses, carry out education on cybersecurity awareness, data security, telecom fraud prevention and other topics, and enhance public awareness of cybersecurity.11 As a user demand-oriented online learning platform, “China Tourism Courses” displays rich tourism and cultural resources in the form of digital technology, and provides users with digital immersive experience with the help of multilingual texts, pictures, panoramic images and short videos. The platform continues to introduce high-quality tourism products that reach high international level, embody distinctive Chinese characteristics and meet the needs of overseas tourists, so that overseas tourists can fully experience the long history, beautiful scenery and innovative vitality of China. National approval of the compliance of online education enters a stage of substantive progress. Online education institutions need to apply for approval and publicity before they can obtain licenses for online discipline training. By the end of November 2021, 14 online education institutions, including Xueersi, Zuoyebang, Penguin Counseling and Zhangmen Education, would be approved. Various online education institutions also improve information security systems and establish internal content review mechanism. For example, the content uploaded by users must be reviewed by machine and employees, so as to strengthen content review and implement institutional responsibilities in an effective way. 3. Short Video Industry Develops Vigorously and Diversifies the Types of Content Products In the past year, the scale of short video users continued to grow, and the content of short videos became more diverse, serving as an important channel for knowledge and information dissemination. Short video content is deeply integrated with various industries to meet diverse needs of users and promote industrial development. As audiences change their habits in reading books and using Internet, short videos become an important way for more people to obtain information and fill leisure time. The number of short video users continues to increase, which injects vitality into content creation and dissemination. By June 2022, in China, the scale of online short video users reached 962 million, with an increase of 28.05 million over December 2021.12 In the past year, short-video knowledge content was continuously produced, covering life, education, humanities, finance, military and other fields. Short video platforms launched the function of video collection to promote the creation of systematic short-video knowledge systems. Relevant content of various famous schools and teachers emerged, with the scope and depth of the content continuously improved. 11

www.people.com.cn: “Cloud Classroom Staged! You Can Acquire Knowledge on Cybersecurity”, October 11, 2021, http://it.people.com.cn/n1/2021/1011/c433780-32,249,830.html. 12 Data Source: The 50th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC.

140

6 The Construction of Internet Content

In 2021, TikTok released “Children Knowledge Plan”, in which it invested 10 billion traffic, encouraged knowledge creators to launch high-quality content, and provided short video works suitable for teenagers to learn. Zhihu and other knowledge communities continue to publish video content to meet users’ diverse demands for knowledge consumption. In March 2022, Zhihu launched “Zhi Xue Tang”, a vocational learning platform for adults, which signaled that the function of Zhihu’s community education extended to more customers. Short videos are integrated with agriculture, cultural tourism and other industries, which promotes rural revitalization and tourism development. From January to October 2021, 420 million agricultural product orders were transacted on Kuaishou platform. More source farmers and businesses introduced high-quality products via short video platform and enlarged the sales market.13 Pinduoduo actively builds quality-oriented agricultural product brands, improves the added value of agricultural products, and opens up markets for more high-quality agricultural products with online shopping activities such as “Double Twelve Goods Festival”. Short video platforms strengthen traffic support, bolster the creation and dissemination of traditional handicrafts, traditional operas and various intangible cultural heritagerelated content, and amplify the attraction and dissemination of excellent traditional culture. Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing and other cities augment urban publicity through short video platforms, promote the dissemination of urban image, and facilitate the development of urban tourism. 4. Livestreaming Industry Is Booming Again and the Livestreaming of Sports and Health Becomes Popular Livestreaming continues to thrive. By June 2022, in China, the scale of livestreaming users reached 716 million, with an increase of 12.9 million over December 2021, accounting for 68.1% of the total number of Internet users. To be specific, the number of sports livestreaming users totaled 306 million, with an increase of 22.32 million over December 2021, accounting for 29.1% of the total number of Internet users.14 Mainstream media and websites actively promote livestreaming programs, constantly innovate content forms, and achieve good communication effects. In virtual meetings, People’s Daily and Internet celebrities of fitness exercises discuss topics such as sports, fitness and healthy diet. The program has been watched by 24.906 million people on Weibo platform, which fosters the wide dissemination of sports livestreaming content and the idea of health. Major new media platforms play an active role in promoting sports livestreaming, discovering excellent creators and launching high-quality livestreaming programs. In June 2022, bilibili cooperated with We Media creators in sports in staging “Livestreaming Fitness Class for One Hour a Day”, and initiated programs such as fitness training, knowledge popularization, chat and Q&A to meet the diverse needs of users.

13

Data Source: 2021 Corporate Social Responsibility Report published by Kuaishou Technology Co., Ltd., June 7, 2022. 14 Data Source: The 50th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC.

6.3 Accelerating the Construction of Comprehensive Internet Governance …

141

5. With Continuous Innovation in VR Game Industry, Scene-Based Entertainment Becomes Increasingly Popular VR technology features immersion and interaction and provides more exciting game experience for game players. As the application scope of VR technology keeps expanding, VR technology and game industry are connected more closely, which generates more diverse scene-based entertainment models and meets the demands of users for entertainment consumption. In Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Winter Olympic Games and Winter Paralympic Games Cultural Square launched a VR ski experience game machine to attract public attention and help the public understand the ice and snow sports and Winter Olympics culture.15 As relevant data suggested, in 2021, the global shipment of VR HMD devices reached 10.95 million units, and the amount of financing M&A in VR industry in China totaled 18.19 billion yuan, up c. 800% year on year. Consumers are nuts about various VR all-in-one machines, and VR scene-based content is applied to the daily life of the public, which upgrade users’ experience in entertainment. In October 2021, the “VR + Game” themed forum of the World VR Industry Conference Cloud Summit was organized. VR game developers from various countries exchanged ideas on game-content innovation and other topics, and offered new ideas and views to industrial development of VR games in the future.16

6.3 Accelerating the Construction of Comprehensive Internet Governance System and Building Healthy Internet Ecology The construction of a comprehensive Internet governance system plays a leading role in Internet governance and management, strengthens and innovates the construction of Internet content, and establishes and improves a comprehensive Internet governance system, helping to continuously improve Internet ecology and create a clearer cyberspace. Nowadays, effectively strengthening the construction of a comprehensive Internet governance system and enhancing the capability in Internet governance and management mean a major issue, form a fundamental policy to implement political requirements of the principle “the Party controlling the Internet” and create a clear cyberspace, and constitute an important measure to promote the modernization of national governance systems and governance capability.

15

www.people.com.cn: “VR Skiing Becomes Extremely Popular”, March 4, 2022, http://ent.peo ple.com.cn/n1/2022/0304/c1012-32365686.html. 16 China Electronic News: “‘VR + Game’ Urgently Needs Cross-Platform Integration and Innovation”, November 9, 2021, http://www.cena.com.cn/arvr/20211026/113675.html.

142

6 The Construction of Internet Content

6.3.1 Upholding Comprehensive Governance and Pooling Concerted Efforts Over the past year, China expedited the establishment of a comprehensive Internet governance system and improved Internet governance capability. Various departments collaborated in promoting comprehensive governance, released a series of laws, continuously perfected legal systems in cyberspace, strengthened lawenforcement in cyberspace, advanced the normalization of special campaigns, and made remarkable progress in law-based Internet governance. 1. Optimizing Laws and Regulations and Strengthening Governance According to Law Over the past year, national cyber affairs institutions adhered to systematic planning, comprehensive governance and orderly advancement. Various departments actively promoted relevant work and extensively gathered concerted efforts in comprehensive Internet governance. Simultaneously, relevant departments intensified lawenforcement in cyberspace, boosted joint law-enforcement across fields and departments, improved the coordination mechanism of law-enforcement in cyberspace, strengthened the construction of law-enforcement teams at the grass-roots levels and severely cracked down on violations in cyberspace. In March 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and other three departments jointly released and officially implemented Administrative Provisions on Algorithmic Recommendation in Internet Information Services. It requires providers of algorithmic recommendation service to establish and improve the mechanism of human intervention and users’ independent selection, and forbids them to use algorithms to influence public opinions on Internet, avoid supervision and management, and conduct monopoly and unfair competition. In May 2022, National Radio and Television Administration issued The Measures for the Administration of Economic Institutions in the Fields of Radio and Television and Internet Audio and Video, in order to regulate brokerage activities in the field of radio and television and Internet audio and video, strengthen the management of brokerage institutions and brokers, clarify the rights and obligations of brokerage institutions and brokers, and ensure the healthy and orderly development of radio and television and Internet audio and video industries. In June 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission issued newly-revised Regulations on the Administration of Mobile Internet Application Information Service, which strictly regulated the responsibilities of information content providers, the authentication of true identity information and the self-discipline of the industry, specifying that app developers should not entice users to download their apps with false advertisements or bundled download as well as by creating fake online views or controlling comments, either automatically or manually.17 This effectively guides the healthy development of apps. 17

www.cac.gov.cn: Regulations on the Administration of Mobile Internet Application Information Service, June 14, 2022, http://www.cac.gov.cn/2022-06/14/c_1656821626455324.htm.

6.3 Accelerating the Construction of Comprehensive Internet Governance …

143

Information licensing and employee management continue to deepen. By May 2022, a total of 35 overseas institutions had been approved to provide financial information services in China. By January 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission had released the reporting information of 20 (the first group) institutions in domestic financial information service. By June 2022, more than 50,000 content-management workers in Internet news and information service institutions were included in administrative management. By the end of 2021, more than 3100 employees from 15 central news websites (platforms) and 79 local news websites held press cards. 2. Launching Normalized Special Campaigns to Maintain the Purity of Cyberspace Various departments actively improve Internet-ecology governance, deepen various special campaigns, strictly implement various laws and regulations, constantly enrich the means of law-enforcement, and jointly promote the construction of Internet ecology. In 2022, “Nationwide Campaign to Purify Internet Environment” was continuously carried out, which focused on ten major fields (e.g. Internet rumors, the chaos in information content of MCN institutions, the chaos in livestreaming and short video, the chaos in app information services, the order of Internet communication, comprehensive algorithmic governance and Internet environment in the Spring Festival). As an effect-oriented campaign, it further highlighted the concerns of Internet users, effectively prevented and solved various Internet problems and protected the legitimate rights and interests of Internet users. In April 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission deployed and organized the campaign “Purifying Internet Environment · Combating Cyber Violence”, which focused on 18 website platforms (including Sina Weibo, TikTok, Baidu Tieba and Zhihu). By establishing and improving monitoring and identification, real-time protection, intervention and treatment, origin-tracing and accountability, publicity and exposure, the campaign conducted full-chain governance, strictly prevented the spread of violence information, increased penalties for violations of laws and regulations, strengthened positive guidance, and resolutely protected Internet users from cyber violence. Besides, the campaign “Purifying Internet Environment Combating the Chaos in the Fields of Livestreaming and Short Video” was staged, which focused on the rectification of harmful content, overcharging and reward, unethical functional operation and illegal profit and other problems, so as to promote the healthy development of short video and livestreaming industry. The campaign “Purifying Internet Environment · Combating Internet Rumors and False Information” was organized to thoroughly dispel Internet rumors and false information and create a clean and positive Internet environment. Simultaneously, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission continues to promote the work of combating Internet rumors, guide website platforms to trace and treat rumors, handle false information and its publishers in a timely manner, and create a clear cyberspace. In March 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission guided the website platform to strengthen the tracing of Internet rumors related to the crash of China Eastern Airlines jet, accurately traced the initial launch of the rumors on the platform, and closed relevant accounts. On March 21–26, more than

144

6 The Construction of Internet Content

279,000 pieces of illegal information were cleared, 2713 accounts were disposed and 1295 topics were dismissed, which achieved a good effect on rumor disposal.18 China Internet Joint Rumor Refutation Platform sets up special sections for “combating and rectifying eldercare fraud” and “reporting harmful information related to online violence”. It continues to strengthen the construction of special columns such as “Special Section for Rumor Refutation Concerning the Pandemic Prevention and Control”, “Refuting Rumors on Snowy White Xinjiang” and “Learning the Party’s History and Knowing the Truth”, and release the list of rumor refutation related to the Party’s history, disaster prevention and mitigation and health. It also carries out a series of themed publicity activities of “pooling the power of refuting rumors and promoting the positive energy of civilization” and the “selection and release of excellent works of refuting rumors on Internet in China” to accelerate the formation of an atmosphere in which the entire society jointly resists Internet rumors.

6.3.2 Arousing the Enthusiasm of Multiple Parties for Participation in Governance The formation of a comprehensive Internet governance system requires the participation of various parties like governments, enterprises, Internet users and social organizations. 2022 saw the third year of the issuance of The Opinions on Accelerating the Establishment of A Comprehensive Internet Governance System. In the comprehensive Internet governance system in China, the importance of both governments and social governance entities is further emphasized. 1. With More Prominent Role, Enterprises Actively Perform Their Duties As the first gateway and frontline of comprehensive Internet governance, enterprises play an increasingly prominent role in the process of comprehensive governance. Over the past year, enterprises continuously enhanced their awareness of responsibilities, strictly implemented the requirements of laws and regulations, and further assumed social and moral responsibilities. Enterprises energetically respond to the action of “Nationwide Campaign to Purify Internet Environment”, spread positive energy content, strengthen rumor governance, and constantly gather Internet positive energy. In January 2022, Tencent Sunshine Media People Annual Conference was held, and analytical reports such as Report on WeChat Platform Positive Energy and Internet Rumors and Governance in the PostPandemic Era were released, which took the initiative in assuming the responsibility of platform management, improving the youth model of WeChat and completing the elder-friendly and accessibility-oriented transformation. Meanwhile, Tencent News 18

www.cac.gov.cn: “Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission Guides the Website Platform to Strengthen the Tracing and Handling of Online Rumors about the Crash of a China Eastern Airlines Jet”, March 26, 2022, http://www.cac.gov.cn/2022-03/26/c_1649932949811375. htm.

6.3 Accelerating the Construction of Comprehensive Internet Governance …

145

Fact Verification Platform continues to carry out the work of rumor governance. From January to December 2021, it released 3189 anti-rumor articles, popularized knowledge on anti-rumor for more than 310 million people, and actively created a clear cyberspace.19 Enterprises continuously optimize the functions of platforms, effectively upgrade the model for teenagers, and actively strengthen the protection of teenagers on Internet. In June 2022, Kuaishou Juvenile Protection Report was released, which launched the “Youth Model 4.0” upgrading and guiding tool, and provided multiple content such as “sports”, “talent” and “music” to help young people quickly obtain high-quality content and learn and grow healthily.20 2. Think Tanks, Social Organizations and Other Parties Participate in Cogovernance and Co-management, with Platforms Playing a Prominent Role Various organizations actively promote industrial self-discipline, advocate enterprises to assume social responsibilities, connect multiple parties, and strive to create a good environment for development. They build platforms to effectively promote industrial exchanges and improve corporate social responsibility and Internet governance capability. In December 2021, Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies (CACS) and Tianjin Municipal Office of Cyberspace Affairs Commission hosted Corporate Development and Social Responsibility Forum. Themed on “Undertaking Social Missions, Fulfilling Social Responsibilities, and Promoting the Standardized and Healthy Development of Internet Enterprises”, the forum released The Initiative on the Development and Social Responsibilities of Chinese Internet Enterprises, which forged extensive consensus on Internet enterprises’ actively fulfilling their social responsibilities. China Internet Development Foundation (CIDF) enthusiastically carries out projects on the publicity and popularization of Internet laws, builds and launches a national platform for the publicity of Internet laws, issues 168 judicial regulations and interpretations, uploads 40 micro-class short videos, and organizes cloud competition on Internet laws. The short video of “Micro Classroom for Law Popularization” produced and disseminated by CIDF platform has been totally viewed by 140 million people. With the number of “like” exceeding 1.1 million and the maximum view of single video reaching 3.65 million, the short video effectively promotes the learning, publicity and education of Internet laws and regulations. In September 2021, China Federation of Internet Societies organized an association standard review meeting on The Evaluation Index System for the Performance of Social Responsibility by Internet Platform Enterprises to promote self-discipline in Internet industry from the perspective of social organizations and participate in comprehensive Internet governance. 3. Internet Users Improve Their Media Literacy and Actively Participate in the Supervision and Reporting Work 19

www.cnr.cn: “Contributing to Pooling Positive Energy of Mainstream Media and Jointly Purifying the Internet: Tencent Sunshine Media People Annual Conference Was Held in Guangzhou”, January 7, 2022, http://tech.cnr.cn/techph/20220107/t20220107_525709616.shtml. 20 www.xinhuanet.com: “Kuaishou Juvenile Protection Report Was Published: Youth Model Upgraded to 4.0”, June 1, 2022. http://www.xinhuanet.com/tech/20220601/86857bc388eb44cd8a588c17a2df5c72/c.html.

146

6 The Construction of Internet Content

In the past year, Internet users continuously improved their qualities, actively participated in the governance of Internet content by means of reporting, and jointly build a beautiful spiritual homeland on Internet. In October 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission issued The Action Outline for Improving the Digital Literacy and Skills of All People, which made a comprehensive and systematic arrangement for improving the digital literacy and skills of all people. In July 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission held a conference on promoting the digital literacy and skills of all people and accelerating the implementation of key tasks. The Reporting Center of Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission continues to deepen the construction of China Internet Joint Rumor Refutation Platform, dispel rumors with authoritative information, respond to the concerns of the public, and enhance the participation of the public in the construction of Internet civilization. The Reporting Center organizes more than 3500 websites and platforms to uniformly publish reporting acceptance methods to the society and establish reporting channels. According to relevant data, since 2021, the Reporting Center has guided the reporting departments of local offices of cyberspace affairs to accept 16.547 million reports, and 215 million reports have been accepted by major websites nationwide. The Reporting Center has directly accepted 5.519 million reports, of which pornography and gambling are the most harmful types of information reported by Internet users. Simultaneously, various regions actively expand channels for accepting reports and strengthen inter-regional cooperation. In May 2022, Internet illegal and harmful information reporting centers in Guangxi, Yunnan and other provinces opened Weibo accounts to streamline the reporting methods of the public and improve the efficiency of purifying Internet environment.21 In December 2021, Office of Cyberspace Affairs Commissions of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee formally signed The Framework Agreement on Jointly Building Internet Illegal and Harmful Information Reporting and Supervision System, to jointly build the Sichuan-Chongqing Joint Internet Rumor-Refutation Matrix and improve the linkage detection of harmful information.22

6.3.3 Strengthening the Protection of the Minors and Highlighting the Young Group In China, “Internet access” shows a prominent trend of low age, and the Internet penetration rate of underage groups increases significantly. Against such backdrop, 21

www.piyao.org.cn: “Internet Reporting Departments in Guangxi and Yunnan Launch Online New Media Accounts”, May 18, 2022, https://www.piyao.org.cn/2022-05/18/c_1211648295.htm. 22 www.piyao.org.cn: “Sichuan and Chongqing Jointly Build the Sichuan-Chongqing Joint Internet Rumor-Refutation Matrix”, December 10, 2021, https://www.piyao.org.cn/2021-12/10/c_1211481 880.htm.

6.3 Accelerating the Construction of Comprehensive Internet Governance …

147

to continuously strengthen the protection of the minors on Internet helps to guide them use Internet in a civilized way and provide them with a healthy and secure Internet environment for their growth. In the past year, for the special group of the minors, relevant governance measures have been strengthened, and relevant policies and regulations have been implemented. For example, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission clearly requires various platforms to upgrade the “youth model”, strictly select the information content received by the minors, sternly check the process of content review, establish special service teams for the minors, give priority to accepting complaints and disputes related to the minors, and stringently punish violations. The protection of the minors in key fields such as livestreaming and short videos has been augmented, and the chaos in rewards for livestreaming has been strictly rectified. In 2022, the campaign “Purifying Internet Environment · Combating the Chaos in the Fields of Livestreaming and Short Video” severely cracked down on the behaviors of webcast anchors who enticed the minors to reward, and comprehensively rectified problems such as the failure to effectively handle and timely return the recharge reward to the minors.23 In May 2022, The Opinions on Standardizing Livestreaming Rewards and Strengthening the Protection of the Minors was released, which proposed that the minors should be strictly prohibited from participating in livestreaming rewards, and the minors should be strictly controlled from engaging in the work of anchors, so as to create a good environment of Internet content for the healthy growth of the minors in the field of livestreaming. Additionally, schools are encouraged to carry out the education of Internet literacy among the minors, enhance their awareness of cybersecurity, and guide them to broaden their horizons and improve their quality.24 Simultaneously, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission focuses on the rectification of prominent problems such as the chaos in undesirable fan culture, strengthens the standardization of Internet information of pop stars, and effectively restricts underage fans from irrationally adoring stars. In August 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission issued The Notice on Further Strengthening the Governance of the Chaos in Undesirable Fan Culture, which clarified ten working measures such as canceling the list of star artists and optimizing and adjusting the ranking rules, proposed that minors should not be allowed to reward, to spend large amounts of money to support their idols, and to act as relevant group administrators, prohibited the minors from voting for their idols in order to boost their popularity, clearly specified that online activities such as star fan groups and fan clubs shall not affect the normal learning and rest of the minors, and ruled that various online meetings shall not be organized among the minors. In November 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission issued The Notice on Further Strengthening the Work Related to the Standardization of Internet Information of Pop Stars, which 23

www.cac.gov.cn: The Notice on Launching the Campaign “Purifying Internet Environment · Combating the Chaos in the Fields of Livestreaming and Short Video”, April 15, 2022, http://www. cac.gov.cn/2022-04/15/c_1651632212222914.htm. 24 www.cac.gov.cn: The Opinions on Standardizing Livestreaming Rewards and Strengthening the Protection of the Minors, May 7, 2022, http://www.cac.gov.cn/2022-05/07/c_1653537626423773. htm.

148

6 The Construction of Internet Content

required relevant departments to strictly control the guidance of Internet content of pop stars, restrict underage fans from irrationally adoring stars, and tighten the management of fan group accounts and entities. Besides, various platforms should establish an Internet public opinion monitoring, disposal and guidance mechanism for pop stars, and create a positive and healthy Internet environment.25 Various organizations also continuously highlight the protection of the minors. In June 2022, a seminar on the protection of the minors on Internet was held with the theme of “Forging Ahead with Fortitude and Making New Achievements in the Protection of the Minors on Internet”. Professional Committee for the Protection of the Minors on Internet of China Federation of Internet Societies was officially established, and The Research Report on the Status Quo of the Protection of the Minors on Internet and The Guide for Children-Oriented Internet Applications Based on Artificial Intelligence Technology were released, which pooled more extensive resources and strength for the protection of the minors on Internet. China Internet Development Foundation financially aids China Association for Disaster Prevention to launch “Internet Addiction Prevention Program for Teenagers”. With sampling and survey research, the program determines the baseline and major influencing factors of Internet addiction of urban and rural teenagers in China, proposes a new definition and evaluation index system of Internet addiction, and forms a healthy, controllable and balanced Internet use model via comprehensive prevention and intervention among individuals, families and schools, in a bid to address major difficulties in the prevention of Internet addiction.

6.4 Digital Culture Continuously Develops In alignment with the development trend of digital industrialization and industrial digitalization, new business forms and models continue to emerge in the cultural industry. The development of digital culture gives new impetus into the high-quality development of cultural industry, and becomes an effective way to optimize cultural supply and meet the needs of people for a better life and an important engine for the transformation and upgrading of cultural industry.

6.4.1 Policies and Regulations on Internet Culture Continually Improve Various departments continue to strengthen top-level design and promote the healthy development of Internet culture. In August 2021, Ministry of Culture and Tourism 25

www.cac.gov.cn: “Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission Releases The Notice on Further Strengthening the Work Related to the Standardization of Internet Information of Pop Stars”, November 23, 2021, http://www.cac.gov.cn/2021-11/22/c_1639177815270259.htm.

6.4 Digital Culture Continuously Develops

149

issued The Administrative Measures for Brokerage Institutions of Internet Performance to strengthen the administration of Internet-culture market and regulate the order of Internet performance. In October 2021, General Office of the State Council issued The Plan for the Protection of Cultural Relics and Scientific and Technological Innovation During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period to promote the development of online products for digital experience in museums and provide newtype services of cultural tourism like immersive experience, virtual exhibition halls and high-definition livestreaming. In November 2021, the Central Commission for Comprehensively Deepening Reform deliberated and adopted The Implementation Opinions on Revitalizing Cultural Relics and Augmenting International Influence of Chinese Culture, which proposed to vigorously develop new business forms of digital content of cultural relics and provide information products and network services with visual presentation, interactive communication and immersive experience. In March 2022, National Cultural Heritage Administration issued The Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Reform and Development of Museums, which encouraged museums to strengthen cooperation with integrated media and digital cultural enterprises, innovate digital cultural products and services, vigorously develop museum cloud exhibition and cloud education, and construct a museum communication system that combines online and offline ways. In May 2022, General Office of the CPC Central Committee and General Office of the State Council issued The Opinions on Promoting the Implementation of National Cultural Digitalization Strategy, which proposed that by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the cultural digitalization infrastructure and service platform would be basically completed, and the cultural service supply system with online and offline integration and interaction and vertical coverage would be established. By 2035, a national cultural big data system that features physical distribution, logical connection, fast link, efficient search, comprehensive sharing and key integration will be built, Chinese culture will be presented in a panoramic way, and the digital achievements of Chinese culture will be shared by all people.

6.4.2 New Progress is Made in the Digitization of Public Culture The digital development of public culture represented by museums, libraries and cultural centers equalizes public cultural services and improves the supply capability of culture in a sustainable way. From 2021 to 2022, 16 provincial libraries launched the construction of a basic supporting platform for smart library resource services. On the basis of characteristic resources of library collection as well as open classes, public libraries at various levels carried out the construction of basic digital resources, and made use of semantic web, knowledge graph and other technologies to promote fine-grained construction of knowledge resources and label indexing. By the end of 2021, the fund

150

6 The Construction of Internet Content

of the central government had supported the construction of 2497.98-TB nationwide reading resources, covering 2.181 million types of e-books, 0.199 million hours of video resources and 1.92 million types of audio resources. Various cultural institutions and museums actively give play to their advantages and strengthen internal and external exchanges with the aid of information technology. China National Silk Museum cooperates with more than 40 museums at home and abroad and initiates “The Silk Road Digital Museum Project”. The official Weibo accounts of National Cultural Heritage Administration (“China Cultural Heritage”), National Museum of China and Sanxingdui Museum (Guanghan, Sichuan) have more than one million fans, and the official Weibo account of the Palace Museum has more than ten million fans. Several social hot topics, such as “National Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries” and “Major Archaeological Discoveries of the Sanxingdui Historical Site”, are read more than 100 million times. In April 2022, Zhejiang Provincial Museum launched “Odes to Chinese Beauties: Cloud Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Women Images”, and developed “Li Ren Xing” Cloud Exhibition Applet. The applet integrates the functions of panoramic digital exhibition, comments on exhibition and exhibition collection, and provides visitors with personalized tourroute design. In June 2022, Dunhuang Academy and Tencent co-built a joint laboratory of digital and creative technology for cultural heritage to carry out cooperation in digital protection of cultural heritage, development of cultural and creative products and exchange of talents in Internet technology. In the demonstration project of “Demonstration of Digital Restoration and Display of Chinese Cultural Relics (Grotto Temples) in Overseas Collection”, relevant departments collect and construct the thematic digital resources of cultural relics lost overseas of Tianlong Mountain Grottoes, a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level, and apply technologies like autostereoscopy to develop multiple digital restoration and display platforms like applets and mobile apps and to promote the digital restoration and sharing of cultural relics lost overseas. The national cultural center system implements a national public culture cloud construction project. The national art-popularization cloud-service system and resource pool, which feature six core functions (i.e. watching livestreaming, participating in activities, learning talents, making an appointment online, enjoying collections and reading good books), construct a new business form of digital service for national art popularization that combines online and offline ways, governmental and social resources and collection supply and creative work. By the end of 2021, the fund of the central government had supported the construction of 1346-TB nationwide art-popularization resources, covering 107,000 h of video resources and 93,000 h of audio resources.

6.4 Digital Culture Continuously Develops

151

6.4.3 Digital Culture Industry Develops Rapidly Digital culture industry realizes high-quality development in a sustainable way, which fosters new business forms in digital culture industry and innovates new models in emerging fields. The cultivation platforms of new immersive business forms mushroom, and crossfield integration and collaborative innovation jointly breed new business forms and models as well as new consumption scenes. Via the integration and innovation of local cultural IP and digital technology, programs like Night Tour of Jinjiang (Chengdu), Gusu 8:30 (Suzhou) and Naturally Distilled Moutai Show Park organically lump cultural experience with commercial consumption, social entertainment and livestreaming, build an immersive scene of online and offline collaboration, and play an important role in promoting the upgrading of cultural industry and cultural consumption. The construction of standards continuously advances. ITU-T.621 mobile phone (mobile terminal) animation international standard, the first international standard in the field of Chinese culture, is applied by more than 1000 enterprises, covering more than 100 million users. The use case, framework and metadata standard (H.629.1 international standard) of the digital art display system are applied to hundreds of thousands experience scenes, and around 20 million digital art works are displayed to the public. The standard of “Technological Requirement and Application Framework for Culture and Art Augmented Reality Presentation” (F.740.2 international standard) is applied in cultural venues such as the China Millennium Monument, Anhui Museum, Henan Museum, etc. Digital culture industry is deeply integrated with digital economy. Digital technologies, e.g. 5G, big data, VR/AR, AI and UHD, are extensively applied in the field of cultural industry. New business forms such as livestreaming, digital art and immersive experience spring up and serve as a strong driving force for the upgrading of cultural industry. As a key field of 5G application and development, “5G + cultural tourism” becomes a new business form in the development of smart tourism characterized with digitalization, networking and intelligence. In particular, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, several online tourism platforms and online cultural platforms have actively responded to the huge difficulties in tourism industry that arose from the pandemic, helped operators on platforms and tourist destinations to pre-sell and collect money through tourism livestreaming, improved the popularity of tourist destinations, boosted tourist consumption, provided a large number of jobs, and better promoted the resumption of work and production of tourism industry.

152

6 The Construction of Internet Content

6.5 The Integration and Innovation-Based Development of Internet Media Comes to a New Stage Internet media achieve the integration and innovation-based development, radio and television and Internet audio and video fuse, and municipal and county media interact. This deepens the development of integrated media. Cutting-edge technologies forge a new pattern of integrated media, the integration of virtuality and reality intensifies, the “content + service” media model develops in an innovative way, and new business forms like digital collection emerge, which constantly meet the needs of people.

6.5.1 Media Integration Focuses on Online-Offline Connection and Platform Linkage 2022 meant a critical year of the three-year action plan for the deep integration and development of media in various regions. The construction of county-level integrated media centers was fully completed. In 2022, a new audio-visual communication pattern that connects radio with television, audio with video on Internet as well as municipal media with county media became the central task in the development of media integration. 1. The Development of Media Integration Connects the Online and Offline Models and Forms an Inclusive Circle In the era of omni-media, media integration means a general trend. In the layout of the integrated development of municipal and county media, various regions aim to construct an omni-media communication system with connectivity, organization and guidance and form a full-process, full-effect and full-coverage intelligent omnimedia communication ecology. Therefore, it is particularly important to give full play to the vanguard role of media integration and to ensure the real-time linkage and rapid response among new multi-level mainstream media. At the end of 2021, various regions represented by Beijing started to formulate three-year action plans for the development of deep media integration. The Three-Year Action Plan on Accelerating Deep Integrated Development of Radio and Television Media in Beijing underscores that the “Beijing Cloud” municipal technological platform plays the role of “general hub”, coordinates the media at various levels, and empowers the integrated development of regional and municipal media centers from multiple aspects such as technology, content, service and management. With their importance further highlighted, municipal media become a key chain in coordinating county and municipal integrated media. In the development of media integration at various levels, there are a number of typical cases in various regions. For example, in the Spring Festival in 2022, Hunan Daily launched “Happy New Year” Livestreaming (a gala for the Year of the Ox) with multiple forms of texts, pictures and short videos, uniformly scheduled

6.5 The Integration and Innovation-Based Development of Internet Media …

153

by Hunan Daily Integrated Media Editorial Committee, on the platform of Hunan Today client-end. More than 120 reporters and editors from various channels, as well as the content production departments of municipal and prefectural branches and sub-newspapers of Hunan Today and www.voc.com.cn, participated in the event, and cooperated with 69 county (district and municipal) integrated media centers of Hunan in content production, covering the provincial, municipal and county levels. Finally, the livestreaming was visited more than 1.5 million times. It was liked on Sina Weibo Reading and viewed (the videos) on the TikTok account of Hunan Today for more than ten million times. 2. Traditional Media Develop in an Innovative Way, with the Linkage of Various Systems and Platforms As the deep development of media integration requires, the integration of traditional and emerging media means an intrinsic path. In 2022, the leaders of Hunan Satellite TV and Mango TV were exchanged, which signaled the implementation of media integration in an all-round way.26 The reform means a new dynamic of innovative development and deep integration of traditional media. In January 2022, Xinhua News Agency and China Writers Association signed a strategic cooperation agreement, in which the two sides would establish an efficient linkage and cooperation model, apply new media and new technologies to promote cross-field integration, and build a new integrated media communication platform in the 5G era. The event forms one major projects of Xinhua News Agency in building an independent and controllable new communication platform and a typical scene in implementing the idea of “5G integrated media application ecology alliance”.27 5G integrated media front functions as new ideological front and cultural front. It possesses great significance for carrying forward the socialist core values, promoting the development of literature in an all-round way, and accelerating the construction of a socialist cultural power.

6.5.2 Immersive Media Come to Rise and Augment the Integration of Reality and Virtuality In the past year, as the immersion of Internet media continued to deepen, various media strengthened the application of digital technologies like metaverse and VR to achieve the integration of real and virtual content. Metaverse signifies a new digital space–time spurred by new-generation information technology and constructed by the integration of virtuality and reality, a 26

Economic Information Daily: “Deeply Cultivating High-Quality Content: The Double-Platform Integration of Hunan Satellite TV and Mango TV Starts”, May 20, 2022, http://www.jjckb.cn/202205/20/c_1310599416.htm. 27 www.xinhuanet.com: “Xinhua News Agency and China Writers Association Launched ‘5G New Reading’ Creation Development Plan”, January 27, 2022, http://www.xinhuanet.com/culturepro/ 20220127/ca0ef5c634624f59837d263f8bbec183/c.html.

154

6 The Construction of Internet Content

media-based reality jointly promoted by technological integration, hardware integration and scene integration, as well as a “future society” with online and offline space and virtuality and reality integration. Driven by metaverse-related technologies, new media industry undergoes profound changes, and media industry moves towards a new stage of immersive media. In June 2022, China Media Group launched A Fantastic Journey to Sanxingdui, the first large-scale immersive digital interactive space, which used real-time cloud rendering technology to present scenes such as Sanxingdui archaeological excavation shed, Sanxingdui Digital Museum and the Kingdom of Ancient Shu, and provided viewers with immersive experience with cultural details. Additionally, media industry realizes the research and development of virtual anchors and digital human via digital technology. In November 2021, the first “AI Sign Language Anchor in Winter Olympics” appeared, which provided sign language services for hearing-impaired users throughout the year with AI, so that they can quickly access the information on sports events.28 In the Dragon Boat Festival in 2022, www.xinhuanet.com staged the first “super realistic digital human” Xiao Zhu, the recommendation officer of Chinese culture in metaverse. Xiao Zhu materializes one of digital human development plans of www.xinhuanet.com and relevant technological companies that reach the cooperation in IP incubation of native digital human based on digital human laboratory. It also explores the application of integrated-media creative products and metaverse in media industry.

6.5.3 The “Content + Service” Model Further Develops While attaching importance to content construction, media platforms gradually establish and improve the user-service model and promote the development model of “content + service”, with a prominent trend of media as service-oriented platforms. The pattern of omni-media communication represented by governmental websites and new media accounts develops steadily and improves the content and level of government services. The omni-media 3D communication matrix of multiple platforms, such as the Weibo, WeChat, client-end and applet and short videos of the State Council, has more than 300 million real-name registered users. In 2021, the total number of communication on various platforms reached 19.72 billion times, which accumulated more than 18,000 services from various regions and departments. Under omni-media communication pattern, governments release information in a more timely and accurate manner. Since 2021, governmental websites and government new media at various levels have strengthened the release of the pandemic information, with more than 35.66 million articles published, providing robust support for promoting the pandemic prevention and control and economic and social development in a coordinated way. Simultaneously, governmental websites and 28

www.ynet.com/index.html: “The First ‘AI Sign Language Anchor in Winter Olympics’ Makes Her Debut”, November 15, 2021, https://t.ynet.cn/baijia/31782832.html.

6.5 The Integration and Innovation-Based Development of Internet Media …

155

new government media play an important role in the construction of digital government. With the help of governmental websites and new government media, various regions and departments actively release governmental information, conduct the interaction between governments and the public, and provide administrative services. By the end of May 2022, there were more than 14,000 governmental websites and more than 112,000 new government media outlets in governmental system nationwide. Governmental websites and new government media become the “last mile to connect public services”. In addition to government services for local citizens, new media services extend to emerging fields like copyright service. In December 2021, Oriental Pearl Group initiated “Oriental Copyright Service Platform Project”. Listed in the pilot of “blockchain + copyright” characteristic field, the project provides new momentum for better implementing “content + service” double core-driven model.29 The main function of Internet media shifts from “content” to “content + service”. The model deeply participates in national governance at the government level, actively explores online and offline integration in the business field, breaks interaction model in physical space, and enlarges the user scale.

6.5.4 Cutting-Edge Technologies Promote the Innovation in Media Form Backed by cutting-edge technologies, online cultural industry continues to thrive, and various high-tech technologies facilitate the continuous innovation in media content and form. In terms of the content and form of media video, Bird’s Nest, the venue for the opening ceremony of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, achieves full coverage of 5G, which not only meets the needs of nearly 40,000 on-site audiences and cast members for short videos, video calls and livestreaming, but also satisfies the needs of outside audiences for immersive experience in livestreaming. Besides, by using “5G network slicing”, various media can access communication signals anytime and anywhere, and realize real-time transmission of photos and videos of the opening ceremony. Simultaneously, the technologies of livestreaming and short videos develop rapidly. In the COVID-19 pandemic, some traditional media actively use the form of livestreaming, and strengthen the immersive experience of communication content. The construction of “5G smart theater” continuously progresses, and the business model of online performance develops in practice and forms a new form of broadcasting. For example, in the pandemic, People’s Daily launched “Cloud View of Shanghai Slow Live” and promoted the innovative development of livestreaming content. The communication of online concerts enlarges frequently. With the help of 29

Beijing Review: “Oriental Pearl Group New Media Selected into National Blockchain Innovation Application Pilot List”, December 22, 2021, http://www.beijingreview.com.cn/keji/202112/t20211 228_800271263.html.

156

6 The Construction of Internet Content

new technologies, the business form of online performance and broadcasting faces big opportunities and continuously develops, with relevant business forms of “online and offline integration” constantly emerging. In May 2022, Tencent Music Entertainment Group launched an online concert. Viewed by more than 100 million people, the concert set off a heated online discussion among Internet users. Later, TikTok staged online singing and chatting show. In terms of real experience, online concerts can be infinitely close to offline concerts, allowing audiences to obtain completely different audio-visual experience from offline performance.30 In 2022, the online broadcast of Prosperity Brought by Dragon and Phoenix was reported by relevant domestic media, and viewed by more than 30 million people in China and more than 25 million people overseas, with a total income of more than 1.1 million yuan. This formed a cultural phenomenon of “enjoying the Spring Festival and watching operas in the cloud”, and produced good social and economic benefits. Additionally, media industry makes a foray into the field of digital collection, and launches digital collections with media content by using blockchain and other technologies. In May 2022, Seals Digital Collections, Shandong’s first state-owned digital collection trading service platform, firstly released its collection of the “debut issue of Dazhong Daily”. On the basis of the artistic restoration of the debut issue of Dazhong Daily, Seals Digital Collections introduced the technology of “digital artist” to make every digital copy of the debut issue different or unique in detail.31 In order to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its founding, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily distributed 20,000 digital collections permanently engraved on the blockchain.32 Metaverse highlights the integration and linkage of virtuality and reality as well as immersive interaction. Blockchain and other technologies further boost the integration and development of virtual and real worlds in media industry.

30

Qilu Evening News: “Online Concert Just as Meal Replacement? Technological Empowerment Is Factually the Secret”, June 2, 2022, https://www.qlwb.com.cn/detail/19406887.html. 31 www.dzwww.com: “Officially Started at 11:00 on May 25! Seals Digital Collections Firstly Sold 4,000 Copies of the ‘Debut Issue of Dazhong Daily”, May 24, 2022, https://sd.dzwww.com/sdn ews/202205/t20220524_10284527.htm 32 Shenzhen Special Zone Daily: “20,000 Digital Collections Sold out in Just 20 Minutes! The First Digital Collections for the 40th Anniversary of Shenzhen Special Zone Daily Become Popular”, May 25, 2022, https://www.dutenews.com/p/6782486.html.

Chapter 7

The Construction of Cybersecurity

7.1 Outline Presently, the world is facing drastic changes and the pandemic both unseen in a century. Various security challenges keep emerging. World economy encounters strong headwinds on its path toward recovery, and global development suffers major setbacks. Geopolitics has a significant impact on cybersecurity, with global industrial and supply chains disrupted. Cybersecurity expands to digital security, data security faces severe challenges, and the situation of cybersecurity becomes complex and severe. Over the past year, China actively upheld the holistic approach to national security, coordinated traditional security and non-traditional security, comprehensively strengthened the construction of cybersecurity guarantee systems and capability, and made significant progress in the construction of law-based cybersecurity. China promulgated and implemented a series of new regulations, policies and measures on cybersecurity, and created a new situation in the fields of data security, personal information protection and critical information infrastructure protection. The settlement of cybersecurity incidents and the special campaigns of cybersecurity problems deeply and solidly advanced. Cybersecurity industry developed vigorously, which further improved the training of cybersecurity talents and significantly strengthened national awareness and skills of cybersecurity protection.

7.2 Overall Situation of Cybersecurity Becomes Severe and Complex In China, cybersecurity paints a grim picture, which manifests itself in the fields as follows. The strategies and approaches of ransomware attacks continue to be upgraded. DDoS lays stress on attack means and effects. Security vulnerabilities keep growing, and the number of vulnerabilities monitored and detected reaches a © Publishing House of Electronics Industry 2024 China Internet Development Report 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5130-7_7

157

158

7 The Construction of Cybersecurity

new high, with the influencing scope expanding significantly. The risks to software supply chain security become prominent. Data leakage incidents occur frequently. Key departments (e.g. governmental agencies, research institutes and operators) and major industries (e.g. finance, education, military industry, aerospace and health) become main fields of APT attacks.

7.2.1 Typical Threats to Cybersecurity Remain Serious 1. The Model of Ransomware Attacks Is Upgraded Again. The triple model of ransomware attacks develops rapidly, and its quadruple model emerges. In 2021, the dual model of ransomware attacks, i.e. encryption and data leakage, became popular or mainstream extortion methods, or evolved into the triple model of ransomware attacks. In the triple model of ransomware attacks, attackers not only use DDoS attacks, but also adopt high-frequency telephone harassment and other means to put pressure on victims. Besides, some extortion groups take more radical approaches. They threaten customers of the victim companies, forcing them to pressurize the victim companies and require the victim companies to pay ransom. In 2021, RISING “Cloud Security” system intercepted 322,200 ransomware samples, with 624,000 times of infection. According to the amount of infection and threat, Sodinkibi, Darkside and BlackCat ranked top three with wide influence in 2021.1 2. DDoS Attackers Attach More Attention to the Convenience and Effect of Attack Methods. Reflection DDoS attack features simple process and significant effect and becomes one of the major approaches of DDoS attacks. In 2021, in type, DDoS attacks were mainly NTP (Network Time Protocol), DNS (Domain Name System) and SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol) Reflection DDoS attacks, accounting for up to 90%. Specifically, the number of NTP Reflection DDoS attacks accounted for c. 43%, much higher than the number of other types of Reflection DDoS attacks. The main reason lies in that the distribution of reflection and amplification types of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) directly relates to the reflection and amplification ratio of NTP. When the reflection and amplification ratio of NTP reaches 400–500 times, the attack effect becomes significant. Hybrid DDoS attacks shoot up, with an increase of 80.8% over 2020.2 In 2021, 215,500 DDoS attacks on the network layer were monitored and intercepted, with a year-on-year increase of 62.96%. The average daily interception of DDoS attack requests on the application layer was 1.49 billion, up 61.39% year on year.3 DDoS attackers pay more attention to the attack cost and efficiency, and tend to cause the users of targeted services to drop, delay and jitter in a short time with 1

Data Source: China Cybersecurity Report 2021 published by RISING. Data Source: DDoS Attack Trends Report in 2021 published by NSFOCUS. 3 Data Source: China Internet Security Report 2021 published by Wangsu Science and Technology. 2

7.2 Overall Situation of Cybersecurity Becomes Severe and Complex

159

massive traffic. In 2021, 75% of the attack duration lasted less than seven minutes, 30% shorter than that in 2019. The duration of DDoS attacks also decreases yearly. In 2021, the longest DDoS attack only lasted five days or so.4 Figure 7.1 shows the change trend of DDoS attack peak (requests per second) in 2021. 3. Major High-Risk Security Vulnerabilities Are Continuously Exposed In 2021, the number of cybersecurity vulnerabilities monitored, detected and disclosed continued to grow. China National Vulnerability Database (CNVD) included 26,564 general software and hardware vulnerabilities, with an increase of 28.3% over 2020. To be specific, the number of high-risk vulnerabilities reached 7285 (27.4%), with a year-on-year decrease of 1.8%. The number of “zero-day” vulnerability totaled 14,951 (56.3%), up 68.0% year on year. Major high-risk vulnerabilities, such as Apache Log4j2, Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft MSHTML (remote code execution vulnerability), SonarQube (source code leakage vulnerability caused by unauthorized access) and Spring4Shell (“zero-day” vulnerability), were exposed. 4. APT Attack Occurs Frequently In March 2022, 360 released the report The Prologue to Cyber Warfare: The U.S. National Security Agency (APT-C-40) Has Launched Non-Discriminatory Attacks on the World for More Than Ten Years, which disclosed that NSA used cyber weapons to carry out cyberattacks on 403 targets in 47 countries and regions such as China, the United Kingdom and Germany. Besides, NSA launched cyberattacks against key industries (e.g. finance, education, military industry, aerospace and healthcare), important sensitive institutions and organizations (e.g. governments, research institutes and operators) in China, which endangered national security. According to 2021 Advanced Threat Situation Research Report published by the Threat Intelligence Center of Hangzhou DAS-Security Information Technology Co., Ltd., China ranks the 6th in the list of countries affected by global APT attacks. In 2021, Bitter frequently launched targeted attacks against China’s military industry. Additionally, as biomedical industry stored a large amount of important information on the COVID-19 vaccination, there were APT attacks targeting biological manufacturing facilities in 2021.

7.2.2 The Cybersecurity Risks in Key Fields Become Prominent 1. The Problem of Data Leakage Arouses Wide Attention

4

China Communications Standards Association: DDos Attack Trends Analysis, September 9, 2021, https://www.ccsa.org.cn/detail/4437?title=DDoS%E6%94%BB%E5%87%BB%E6%80% 81%E5%8A%BF%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90.

160

7 The Construction of Cybersecurity

Fig. 7.1 The change trend of DDoS attack peak in 2021. Data Source Report on DDoS Attack Situation in 2021 published by Baidu Security and China Unicom Digital Technology

In 2021, China ranked the 5th in the world in the attacks on database. Among the scanned databases, 52% contained at least one vulnerability, and the average number of vulnerability per database reached 74.5 In 2021, the types of attacks on China’s mainstream databases were mainly database malicious code attacks and database backdoor attacks. In 2021, data leakage incidents accounted for more than 80% of all data security incidents in China.6 As 2022 Survey Report on the Status Quo of Data Security of Chinese Enterprises suggested, more than one quarter (27%) of the surveyed enterprises admitted that major data security incidents had occurred, and more than half of the surveyed enterprises observed that data security products could only meet less than 60% of the corporate demands.7 In terms of the threats to data security, more than 70% (71%) of the security staff of the surveyed enterprises viewed “weak awareness of security staff” as the primary pain point of data security, followed by privileged accounts (58%), internal threats (56%), the third-party and supply chain security (56%), extensive API calls (52%), complexity of new scenes and new businesses (52%), data asset visibility (50%), risk and compliance (41%), hybrid cloud and cross-cloud environment (41%), and talent shortage (41%), as shown in Fig. 7.2. 2. The Security Risks of Software Supply Chain Become Prominent With the rapid development of software industry, software supply chain becomes more complex and diverse, which occasions a series of security problems and complicates overall security protection of information systems. The situation of source code security remains grim in China. According to Analysis Report on Software Supply Chain Security in China in 2021 published by QI-ANXIN, there are more than ten security defects in every 1000 lines of code. In 2021, a total 5

Data Source: The report 46% of Databases Globally Are Not Secure published by Imperva. Data Source: 2021 Data Leakage Trends Analysis Report published by Secsmart Information Technology Co., Ltd. 7 Data Source: 2022 Survey Report on the Status Quo of Data Security of Chinese Enterprises published by GoUpSec and Beijing Chenge Technology Co., Ltd. 6

7.2 Overall Situation of Cybersecurity Becomes Severe and Complex

161

Fig. 7.2 The risks and challenges to corporate data. Data Source 2022 Survey Report on the Status Quo of Data Security of Chinese Enterprises published by GoUpSec et al.

of 3,387,642 security defects were detected for the source code of software projects independently developed by domestic enterprises. In particular, there were 361,812 high-risk defects, with overall defect density of 10.11/1000 lines and high-risk defect density of 1.08/1000 lines. The open source software becomes an obvious trend, and the security risk proves prominent. As monitored and detected, 100% of domestic corporate software projects use open source software. In 2557 domestic corporate software projects, 2280 have known open-source-software vulnerabilities, accounting for 89.2%. There are 2062 projects with known high-risk open-source-software vulnerabilities, accounting for 80.6%. There are 1802 projects with known super high-risk open-source-software vulnerabilities, accounting for 70.5%.8 3. Cybersecurity Risks to Industrial Control System Continue to Increase The overall situation of industrial information security remains stable; yet, the cybersecurity risk continuously intensifies, and overseas attacks keep increasing. In 2021, overseas organizations carried out malicious acts, such as scanning detection and information reading, against industrial control systems in China more than six million times. The total number of security vulnerabilities in industrial control systems dropped, but the number of new super high-risk vulnerabilities rose significantly. In 2021, four major vulnerability platforms at home and abroad, i.e. Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE), the U.S. National Vulnerability Database (NVD), China National Vulnerability Database (CNVD) and China National Vulnerability 8

Data Source: Analysis Report on Software Supply Chain Security in China in 2021 published by QI-ANXIN.

162

7 The Construction of Cybersecurity

Database of Information Security (CNNVD), newly included 636 security vulnerabilities in industrial control systems, down 20.9% over 2020 (804). Sixteen super high-risk vulnerabilities were added, with an increase of 166.7% over 2020.9 Once super high-risk vulnerabilities are used by attackers, they probably cause major losses and serious consequences. In brief, the risks of cyberattacks on industrial control systems cannot be underestimated. 4. Software-Based Intelligent Connected Vehicles (ICVs) Intensify Security Risks As the software level of ICVs continues to improve, the number of vehicle codes with automatic/auxiliary driving functions exceeds 100 million lines, with a large number of open source software used in multiple vehicles. This poses security threats to IoV. As monitored, in the first half of 2021, network malicious acts such as scanning detection, DoS attack and Trojan implantation targeting IoV platforms were performed more than one million times, with a year-on-year increase of more than 80% over 2020.10 Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has collected more than 2,000 pieces of information on IoV security vulnerabilities, including vulnerabilities in intelligent gateway and remote communication. China National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center (CNCERT/CC) has detected business vulnerabilities in a remote-control mobile phone app when detecting a certain domestic vehicle model. The accounts and passwords of the remote-control mobile phone apps of vehicle owners can be easily decoded and obtained, after which more than 100,000 running vehicles can be remotely controlled with one mobile phone at the same time.

7.3 Cybersecurity is Solidly Protected and Guaranteed Since 2021, laws and regulations, such as The Data Security Law, The Personal Information Protection Law and The Regulations on the Protection of the Security of Critical Information Infrastructure, have been promulgated successively. The security of critical information infrastructure, cyber and data security, personal information protection and ICV security are steadily promoted, and the management of industrial Internet security is continuously improved. The construction of a cybersecurity standard system is constantly strengthened, which effectively safeguards the cybersecurity and the legitimate interests of people.

9

Data Source: Analysis Report on the Development and Practice of Industrial Internet Security in 2021 published by QI-ANXIN Industrial Security Research Center and National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Control System Security. 10 www.cctv.com: “Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: The Problem of Internet of Vehicles Security Quickly Intensifies”, October 13, 2021, http://m.news.cctv.com/2021/10/13/ART Iq4p8hIv4xugQ6h7iMCrS211013.shtml.

7.3 Cybersecurity is Solidly Protected and Guaranteed

163

7.3.1 The Protection of the Security of Critical Information Infrastructure is Continuously Carried Out The security guarantee system of critical information infrastructure improves. Particularly, the assessment of cloud computing service security for critical information infrastructure is continuously carried out, the standardization of the security of critical information infrastructure is accelerated, and the security guarantee capability is further enhanced. In September 2021, The Regulations on the Protection of the Security of Critical Information Infrastructure was formally implemented, which provided the basis and guidance for the identification of critical information infrastructure. National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee promotes the formulation of nine key standards, including The Evaluation Methods for the Capabilities of Security Protection of Information Security Technologies and Critical Information Infrastructure and The Framework for Cybersecurity Emergency Response System of Information Security Technologies and Critical Information Infrastructure. This signals a breakthrough in relevant standards for the security of critical information infrastructure. Simultaneously, more than 20 critical information infrastructure operators in the industries of finance, energy, transportation, telecom and healthcare are chosen to jointly conduct standard pilot projects11 and to explore practical and innovative models for the security protection of critical information infrastructure.

7.3.2 The Work of Data Security and Personal Information Protection Continues to Deepen The legal system for data security and personal information protection further improves. Relevant laws and regulations, such as The Data Security Law, The Personal Information Protection Law and The Data Exit Security Assessment Methods, have been promulgated successively, and laws and regulations and rules and systems of data security governance have been improved in China. The Regulations on the Administration of Cyber Data Security (Draft for Comments) and The Contract Provisions on the Standards for the Exit of Personal Information (Draft for Comments) are open to public opinions, so as to further clarify obligations in the management of data security, optimize rules for the processing of personal information, and improve the management system of data exit security. This further standardizes the collection and use of personal information by personal information processors. In March 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, together with Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, State Administration for Market Regulation and Ministry of Public Security, formulated and issued 11

http: //www.cac.gov.cn: “Expert’s Interpretation | Yang Jianjun: Standards Facilitate the Construction of Critical Information Infrastructure Security Guarantee System”, August 17, 2021, http:// www.cac.gov.cn/2021-08/17/c_1630790667815905.htm.

164

7 The Construction of Cybersecurity

The Provisions on the Scope of Necessary Personal Information for Common Mobile Internet Applications, which clearly stipulated the scope of personal information necessary for the collection and use of 39 common types of mobile Internet apps. In November 2021, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued The Notice on Carrying out Information and Communication Services Awareness Improvement Action, which required relevant enterprises to establish the list of collected personal information and shared personal information with a third party for information and communication services that affect user perception, and display the list in the secondary menu of the app. The systems and standards in data security and personal information protection are further optimized and implemented. In order to guide data processors to carry out data classification and grading, important data identification and other work, in December 2021, National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee issued The Practical Guide for Cybersecurity Standards: Guidelines for Cyber Data Classification and Grading, which proposed the principles, frameworks and methods of data classification and grading, determined the framework of data classification and grading, and clarified implementation processes for data classification and grading, such as data asset investigation, data classification, data grading, review identification management and data protection. In January 2022, National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee solicited public opinions on The Guidelines for the Identification of Important Data in Information Security Technologies, and gave basic principles, key factors and descriptions of important data for the identification of important data. In order to guide the implementation of personal information collection, processing, security protection and other work, in April 2022, National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee released Basic Requirements for Information Security Technologies and Mobile Internet Apps to Collect Personal Information, which divided the functions of apps in detail (including 39 categories such as map navigation, online car-hailing, instant messaging, online community and online payment) and clarified basic requirements for collecting personal information. Meanwhile, National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee issued The Technical Specifications for the Certification of Cross-Border Processing of Personal Information in The Practical Guide for Cybersecurity Standards (Draft for Comments), which aimed to implement Article 38 of The Personal Information Protection Law (establishing a personal information protection and certification system to provide the basis for certification), and put forward requirements from basic principles, the requirements for relevant parties to follow in cross-border processing activities, and the protection of the rights and interests of personal information.

7.3.3 The Work of Cybersecurity Review Deepens In February 2022, the newly-revised The Measures for Cybersecurity Review took effect, which clearly requires that Internet platform operators that own personal information of more than one million users must apply for cybersecurity review

7.3 Cybersecurity is Solidly Protected and Guaranteed

165

when they are listed overseas. Since July 2021, Office of Cybersecurity Review has successively carried out cybersecurity reviews on Didi Chuxing, Yunmanman, Huoyunbang, BOSS Zhipin and CNKI to prevent the risks to national data security, safeguard national security, and protect public interests. Additionally, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and other departments organized the security assessment of cloud platforms that served Party and government organs and critical information infrastructure, so as to strengthen the security management of cloud computing services and prevent security risks to cloud computing services. During the assessment, 56 types of high risks in personnel management, physical security, system protection, security evaluation and access control, maintenance and audit of these cloud platforms were detected. After governmental supervision, the rectification of the high risks was completed. By April 2022, 56 cloud platforms had passed the security assessment of cloud computing services.

7.3.4 The Protection of Cybersecurity and Data Security of Connected Vehicles is Strengthened China attaches great importance to security issues in the development and construction of IoV, and constantly strengthens the guarantee of cybersecurity and data security. In August 2021, five departments, including Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, issued Several Provisions on the Management of the Security of Automobile Data (For Trial Implementation), which aimed to clarify the responsibilities and obligations of automobile data processors, regulate automobile data processing activities, protect the legitimate rights and interests of individuals and organizations, safeguard national security and social public interests, and promote the reasonable development and utilization of automobile data according to law. In September 2021, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released The Notice on Strengthening the Cybersecurity and Data Security of Internet of Vehicles, which required to build a management system of cybersecurity and data security, establish and improve the guarantee system of IoV security, and ensure the safe and stable operation of IoV. Besides, to tackle the severe security situation in the development and application of ICV industry, China has successively issued The Opinions on Strengthening the Access Management of Intelligent Connected Vehicle Manufacturing Enterprises and Products and The Guiding Opinions on Further Strengthening the Construction of the Security System of New Energy Vehicle Enterprises, which strengthen the access management of ICV manufacturing enterprises and products, and raise clear requirements for new energy vehicle enterprises in the ICV cybersecurity, data security, personal information protection and online upgrading. To accelerate the implementation of measures on ICV security, in September 2021, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced the list of pilot projects on IoV identity authentication and security trust, issued The Technological Guide for Internet of Vehicles Identity Authentication and Security Trust Pilot (1.0), carried out the pilot

166

7 The Construction of Cybersecurity

work of IoV identity authentication and security trust in four aspects (i.e. vehicle-tocloud security communication, vehicle-to-vehicle security communication, vehicleto-road security communication and vehicle-to-device security communication), and clearly required to accelerate the construction of IoV cybersecurity guarantee capability, build an IoV identity authentication and security trust system, and ensure the security of cellular IoV communication. The standardization of the cybersecurity and data security of ICV further quickens. In October 2021, National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee issued The Guide for the Security of Vehicle Data Collection and Processing to provide guidance for processing activities such as the collection, transmission, storage and exit of vehicle data.12 Simultaneously, National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee promoted the establishment of Joint Working Group on Cybersecurity Requirements and Assessment Activities for Intelligent Connected Vehicle Equipment (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC27/JWG6), which would be responsible for promoting international standards like China-dominated ISO/IEC 5888 Cybersecurity Requirements and Assessment Activities for Intelligent Connected Vehicle Equipment. In March 2022, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology organized the compilation of The Guidelines for the Construction of the Standard System of the Cybersecurity and Data Security of Internet of Vehicles, and proposed to initially establish the standard system of the cybersecurity and data security of IoV by the end of 2023, and to form a relatively complete standard system of the cybersecurity and data security of IoV by 2025. National Industrial Information Security Development Research Center plays a leading role in compiling the association standard The Guide for the Assessment of the Data Security of Intelligent Connected Vehicles and formally solicits public opinions, aiming to establish the assessment system of the data security of ICVs, clarify implementation procedures, and provide references for ICV-related enterprises to independently carry out data security assessment.

7.3.5 The Work of Cybersecurity and Data Security in Industrial Internet is Gradually Carried Out Data security protection and standard system construction in industrial Internet accelerate, which continuously improves the capability in coping with risks. In February 2022, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology again canvassed public opinions on The Measures for the Administration of Data Security in the Fields of Industry and Information Technology (For Trial Implementation), which further clarified the scope of data in the fields of industry and information technology, and optimized the requirements for data classification and grading management. Ministry of Industry 12

National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee: “Building the Data Security System of Internet of Vehicles Based on Industrial Development”, October 25, 2021, https://www. tc260.org.cn/front/postDetail.html?id=20211025165352.

7.3 Cybersecurity is Solidly Protected and Guaranteed

167

and Information Technology also released The Notice on Solidly Promoting the Pilot Work of Data Security Management in the Industrial Field, and decided to expand the scope of the pilot work of data security management in the industrial field, carrying out pilot work in Liaoning and other 14 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government and cities specifically designated in the state plan. National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee has successively issued standards for industrial control system security, such as The Technological Requirements and Test and Evaluation Methods for the Protection of the Security of Information Security Technologies and Industrial Control Systems, The Guidelines for the Protection of the Cybersecurity of Information Security Technologies and Important Industrial Control Systems and The Maturity Model for the Protection Capability of the Security of Information Security Technologies and Industrial Control Systems, which provide basic requirements, technological requirements, guarantee requirements and test and evaluation methods for the protection of industrial control system security, as well as methods for verifying the level of capability maturity, and guide the construction, operation and maintenance of industrial control systems.

7.3.6 The Work of Cybersecurity Standardization Steadily Progresses By the end of June 2022, National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee had released 339 national standards for cybersecurity and developed or revised 81 national standards. From June 2021 to June 2022, a total of 29 national standards for cybersecurity were released, and 21 national standards for cybersecurity were approved. Among them, Technological Terminology on Information Security, revised and issued in 2022, serves as a basic standard for technological exchanges in the field of information security, and helps to understand the concepts of information security technology, the formulation of technological standards for information security and the exchanges of information security technology at home and abroad. The research and formulation of standards in major fields of cybersecurity advance rapidly. In data security, standards for the classification and grading of cyber data and the identification of important data are researched and formulated, which supports the implementation of requirements for the establishment of the protection system of data classification and grading and the formulation of the catalogues of important data in The Data Security Law. In biological information, the development and approval of four standards, i.e. The Requirements for Information Security Technologies and Face-Recognition Data Security, The Requirements for Gene-Identification Data Security, The Requirements for Voiceprint-Recognition Data Security and The Requirements for Gait-Recognition Data Security, have been completed. In the financial and insurance industry, The Standards for the Security of Financial Data and Data Lifecycle and The Standards for the Assessment of the Security of Financial

168

7 The Construction of Cybersecurity

Data and Data Security are researched and formulated, which ensure the security of financial data. In the transportation industry, the standard The Requirements for the Security of Vehicle Data Processing is researched and formulated, and the first technological document on vehicle data security The Guide for the Collection and Processing of Vehicle Data is released, which bolster the work of the management of national vehicle data security. In personal information protection, national standards, such as The Guide to the Standardized Review and Management of Personal Information Processing and The Guide to the Management of Personal Information Processing Activities, are approved and formulated, and technological documents like The Guide to the Classification of Pre-Installed Apps on Smartphones are released, which support solutions to the problems in relation to the protection of personal information security on app stores and mobile smart terminals. In cipher, several standards, such as Basic Requirements for the Application of Information System Cipher and Confidentiality Algorithm (Part Two) in Information Security Technology and ZUC Sequence Cipher Algorithm, are issued, which promote the realization of domestic cipher algorithms in commercial cipher products and effectively support the implementation of The Cipher Law and the popularization and application of domestic cipher algorithms. China actively participates in the formulation of international standards for cybersecurity. China promotes the release of two China-initiated international standards (i.e. SM4 block cipher algorithm and virtual trust root) as well as three Chinacontributed international standards (i.e. SM9 key exchange protocol, privacy deletion scheme and SM3 password hashing algorithm), and approves three China-initiated research projects (i.e. confidentiality computing, secure multi-party computing and digital currency hard wallet security). By the end of June 2022, China had participated in 49 projects of international standards. Among them, 18 had been released, 24 were approved, and seven were researched, accounting for 8.18, 35.3 and 19.44% of the total number of corresponding standards of ISO/IEC JTC1/SC27 respectively. China makes remarkable achievements in the implementation and promotion of cybersecurity standards. China holds the forum on standards for critical information infrastructure security, the forum on standards for data security and other activities to interpret policies and discuss and exchange demands and practices in terms of standards. With the aid of large-scale activities such as National Cybersecurity Publicity Week, National Security Education Day for the Public, Cybersecurity Standards Week and New-Generation Standardization Forum, China organizes standard publicity activities to vigorously promote the understanding and use of standards by all sectors of society. By selecting excellent practical cases of national cybersecurity standards, China holds online knowledge competition and innovation activities on cybersecurity standards to deepen the concern and understanding of cybersecurity standards among the entire society. China organizes personnel to evaluate the effect on a number of national standards that have been implemented for one year and proposals of international standards that have been put forward by China in the past five years, so as to summarize the excellent experience of standard implementation and application and improve the effect of standard implementation.

7.4 The Settlement of Cybersecurity Incidents and the Special Campaigns …

169

7.4 The Settlement of Cybersecurity Incidents and the Special Campaigns of Cybersecurity Problems Are Deeply Carried Out Since 2021, relevant departments in China have deeply addressed cybersecurity threats. They have continuously strengthened special campaigns to effectively enhance cybersecurity protection and governance and crack down on ransomware, DDoS attacks, telecom network fraud and illegal collection and use of personal information on apps and other cybercrimes.

7.4.1 The Special Campaign of Solving Prominent Cybersecurity Problems is Steadily Promoted 1. Multiple Measures Are Taken to Prevent and Address Ransomware Threats In November 2021, China National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center (CNCERT/CC), together with domestic leading security enterprises, set up China Internet Cybersecurity Threat Governance Alliance Professional Working Group on Ransomware Prevention and Response, which would carry out ransomware prevention and response in the aspects of ransomware information notification, intelligence sharing, daily prevention and emergency response, and effectively crack down on relevant criminal activities. By June 2022, a total of more than 7.27 million ransomware samples had been captured, and the spread of ransomware samples had been monitored and detected more than 2.69 million times, involving more than 40 ransomware families. Simultaneously, National Internet Emergency Center Ransomware Dynamic Weekly Report and The Guide to Ransomware Prevention were released to help enterprises, institutions and individuals better understand, prevent and address the threats of ransomware attacks and enhance their awareness of the prevention of ransomware. 2. The Special Campaign of Personal Information Protection Is Continued Launched Now, a large number of apps are beset with the typical problem of illegal collection and use of personal information. Under such circumstance, China continues to promote the special campaign of the protection of personal information on apps. With special detection of commonly-used apps, the apps with serious problems will be published and criticized. Simultaneously, the special channels for complaint and reporting and the normalized acceptance mechanism are established, which effectively combats the illegal collection and use of personal information on apps, arouses the attention from app operators to personal information protection, and achieves good governance effects and social response. Presently, in China, the total number of mainstream Android app stores approximates to 1.12 million, and around 20,000 apps have been downloaded more than one

170

7 The Construction of Cybersecurity

million times.13 In order to further strengthen the protection of personal information on apps, in 2021, four ministries and commissions, including Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, cracked down on the forced downloading, compulsory authorization, excessive claims, over-range collection of personal information and frequent requests for permission, and took punishment measures on these apps illegally collecting and using personal information (e.g. notifying them to the public, ordering them to rectify in a limited time, and removing them), which effectively deterred illegal acts. Since 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission has organized special inspection on more than 1600 apps of 39 common types widely used by the public, and publicly notified more than 350 apps with serious violations of laws and regulations, ordering them to rectify in a limited time. For app operators that fail to rectify in the limited time, relevant punishment measures shall be taken according to law. China National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center (CNCERT/CC) actively uses new technological means like big data to build a personal information detection platform for the collection and use of apps, realizes the rapid detection of 16 typical problems that exist in domestic mainstream app stores (such as “no permission for use and the collection of personal information without a user’s consent”), and effectively supports personal information protection and governance with technological means. The normalized complaint and reporting acceptance mechanism further strengthens the role of social supervision and effectively curbs the illegal collection and use of personal information on apps. From January 2021 to May 2022, App Special Governance Working Group of Cyber Security Association of China totally received about 36,000 complaints and reports on the illegal collection and use of personal information on apps, more than twice as many as in 2020. As detected, the problem of the absence of privacy policies on apps shows a downward trend. By May 2022, the proportion of the problem decreased from 26% at the peak in 2019 to 6.7%. In newly-launched apps, the problem has been basically solved. Meanwhile, 81,000 stock apps with the problem were removed. In 2022, “3 · 15 gala” set up “3 · 15 Information Security Laboratory” for the first time to conduct professional scenebased testing for potential information security risks easily ignored in consumers’ daily life, so as to timely give risk warning and urge app operators to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations in personal information protection. Besides, relevant departments organize special inspection of personal information and data security in major industries. In the second half of 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, together with National Health Commission and National Healthcare Security Administration, carried out the special action on personal information protection in the healthcare industry and medical insurance field. In March 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, in conjunction with State Post Bureau and Ministry of Public Security, launched the special action on the governance of personal information security in the fields of 13

Data Source: Monitoring and Analysis Report on the Illegal Collection and Use of Personal Information on Apps published by China National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center (CNCERT/CC).

7.4 The Settlement of Cybersecurity Incidents and the Special Campaigns …

171

postal service and express delivery. In this way, relevant departments check the risks to personal information and data security in major industries, guide and urge operation organizations to fully implement data security management and technological protection measures, and improve the capability of personal information protection.

7.4.2 Telecom Network Fraud and Other Cybercrimes Are Punished According to Law Telecom network fraud remains rampant. To solve the problem, in April 2022, General Office of the CPC Central Committee and General Office of the State Council issued The Opinions on Strengthening the Work of Cracking down on Illegal Crime of Telecommunications Network Fraud, which deployed the work of combating the illegal crime of telecom network fraud. In June 2022, the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress solicited public opinions on The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Combating Telecommunication Network Fraud (The Second Draft for Deliberation), which proposed basic legal framework for combating telecom network fraud. On the basis of further summing up the experience of anti-fraud work, the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress focuses on strengthening the construction of preventive legal systems and tightening the punishment of criminals. In 2021, several ministries and commissions continued to combat cybercrimes and improve the ecology and order in cyberspace. Ministry of Public Security launched “2021 Internet Clean-up Campaign”, which investigated 62,000 cases and captured 103,000 suspects, up 10.7% and 28.7% year on year respectively. In “combating illegal network accounts” of “2021 Internet Clean-up Campaign”, Ministry of Public Security cracked down on black industrial chain of network accounts according to law, captured more than 6000 “insiders” in the industry, closed more than 80 network platforms for receiving verification codes, generating verification codes, re-opening accounts, manipulating accounts and illegal transactions, seized more than 10,000 modem pools and simcard pools, and closed more than 10 million network accounts involved. In the first half of 2022, National Anti-Fraud Center screened 878,000 websites, 73,000 apps and 75,000 cross-border phone calls, and included them in National Blackmail Sample Database. By April 2022, National Blackmail Sample Database had covered and handled 3.187 million blackmail websites, 469,000 apps, and 397,000 cross-border phone calls. Internet Warning and Dissuasion Platform had given more than 600 million alerts.14 In May 2022, Ministry of Public Security announced five types of high-incidence telecom network fraud cases, affirming that the five types of fraud cases, i.e. rebate from faking reviews, fake investment

14

www. cac.gov.cn:“office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission Exposes a Batch of Typical Cases of Telecom Network Fraud”, April 14, 2022. http://www.cac.gov.cn/2022-04/14/c_1651546285887220.htm.

172

7 The Construction of Cybersecurity

and financing, fake network loans, impersonating customer service staff and impersonating staff from public security organs, procuratorial organs and people’s courts, accounted for nearly 80%. Among them, rebate from faking reviews saw the highest incidence of fraud cases, accounting for one third of the total number of fraud cases. Fake investment and financing involved the largest amount of money, accounting for one third of the total amount involved.15

7.5 Cybersecurity Industry and Cybersecurity Technology Develop Stably Cybersecurity guarantee capability hinges on the support from cybersecurity industry and technology. China continuously promotes the growth and expansion of cybersecurity industry in the aspects of policy planning, capital investment and park construction. Governments and enterprises continue to increase their expenditures on cybersecurity products and services. The market scale of cybersecurity industry grows steadily, the construction of cybersecurity industrial parks advances continually, and industrial comprehensive strength expands continuously.

7.5.1 The Development Environment of Cybersecurity Industry Continues to Improve Relevant policies and plans in cybersecurity industry are successively released, which continuously improves the overall layout of cybersecurity industry. The Plan for Development of the Digital Economy During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period proposes to accelerate the development of a cybersecurity industrial system and promote the application of cybersecurity technologies such as mimic defense and data encryption. The Plan for Information and Communication Development During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period proposes to create a prosperous cybersecurity industry and a credible cyber ecological environment. In January 2022, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued The Notice on Carrying out the Pilot Work of the Application of Cybersecurity Technology, which required to start the pilot demonstration work of the application of cybersecurity technology and choose pilot demonstration projects in nine key directions (e.g. cloud security, AI security, cybersecurity, and high-end technological innovation platform) and major industries (e.g. public communication and information services, energy and finance).

15

www.cctv.com: “Ministry of Public Security Announced Five Types of High-Incidence Telecom Network Fraud Cases”, May 11, 2022, https://news.cctv.com/2022/05/11/ARTI8OVaWxwLSPu YQOjAVEux220511.shtml.

7.5 Cybersecurity Industry and Cybersecurity Technology Develop Stably

173

Industrial organizations actively hold industrial development forums and collect innovation achievements to promote the integrated development of cybersecurity industry and technological innovation. In October 2021, China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance played a leading role in organizing Cybersecurity Industrial Development Forum to explore new paths and approaches for the integrated development of cybersecurity industry and technological innovation. In December 2021, China Internet Development Foundation initiated “2021 China Internet Development Innovation and Investment Competition (Shenzhen) and China Internet Innovation and Entrepreneurship Week: Cybersecurity Development and Innovation Forum”, which highlighted and discussed the policies and construction strategies related to the development of cybersecurity industry, and aroused wide attention from the society. In January 2022, Cyber Security Association of China held “Symposium on Key Issues on Cybersecurity and Innovative Development” to effectively improve the guarantee capability of key technologies and the service of innovative development of cybersecurity and play a positive role in promoting the development of cybersecurity industry. Since the middle of April 2022, Cyber Security Association of China has launched the collection of cybersecurity innovation achievements among the public, and received more than 180 innovation achievements from governmental departments, research institutions, universities, enterprises, investment institutions, social organizations and media, which promote the application of cybersecurity innovation technology. Zhongguancun Trusted Computing Industry Alliance actively constructs a demonstration base in the research on cybersecurity level protection 2.0 and trusted computing 3.0, builds an environment for joint research on key technologies of trusted computing and technological verification, and cooperates with Ministry of Public Security Third Institute in trusted verification. In internal testing, 15 enterprises have participated in the test of trusted computing products.

7.5.2 The Market Scale of Cybersecurity Industry Expands and Related Investment and Financing Thrives The market scale of domestic cybersecurity industry continues to grow. In 2021, the market scale of cybersecurity industry in China realized c. 61.4 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth rate of 15.4%.16 In the past three years, the industry generally maintained a growing trend. As estimated, the market scale will exceed 100 billion yuan in 2023. According to the data of International Data Corporation (IDC), in 2021, China’s market share of cybersecurity hardware, service and software reached 38%, 34% and 28% respectively. In the five-year forecast period (from 2021 to 2025), China’s cybersecurity-related expenditure will grow at a CAGR of 20.5%, ranking the 1st in the world. Predictably, by 2025, China’s cybersecurity-related expenditure will

16

Data Source: Analysis of China’s Cybersecurity Market and Corporate Competitiveness in 2022 published by China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance.

174

7 The Construction of Cybersecurity

reach 21.46 billion U.S. dollars. In terms of industrial terminal users, telecom operators, local governments and banks rank top three in the expenditure on cybersecurity. By 2025, their total scale of expenditure on cybersecurity will exceed 9.41 billion U.S. dollars. Specifically, the expenditures of local governments and banks on cybersecurity grow steadily, with a CAGR of more than 21.0%. Additionally, with the promulgation of The Data Security Law and other laws and regulations, the market of data security industry will develop rapidly. In 2021, the market scale of data security industry in China achieved 6.97 billion yuan, and would reach 12.7 billion yuan by 2023 as estimated.17 Particularly, privacy computing made remarkable progress under the collaborative promotion of “industry-university-research” model. In 2021, the market scale of privacy computing in China realized 490 million yuan, and would reach 14.51 billion yuan by 2025 as predicted. As relevant data suggested, from 2016 to the first quarter of 2022 (by March 9), the cumulative financing of Chinese privacy computing enterprises exceeded three billion yuan, accounting for more than 60% in 2021.18 1. The Market of Cybersecurity Software Grows Fastest As International Data Corporation predicts, in the next five years, the market of cybersecurity software in China will become the fastest growing primary sub-market. By 2025, the market scale will reach 5.9 billion U.S. dollars, with a five-year CAGR of 23.9%. Noticeably, the market scale of cybersecurity analysis, intelligence, response and rehearsal will develop at a high speed with a five-year CAGR of 27.5%, whose growth rate will outstrip that of the market scale of identity and digital trust in 2024, becoming the largest cybersecurity software sub-market. 2. Cybersecurity Hardware Market Remains the Largest Sub-market According to the data of International Data Corporation, in the next five years, cybersecurity hardware market in China remains the primary sub-market with the largest proportion, with a growth rate of more than 40.0%. In the five-year forecast period (from 2021 to 2025), the CAGR of cybersecurity hardware market will reach 18.4%. In 2021, in terms of the share of top five major manufacturers in five cybersecurity hardware sub-markets, including unified threat management (UTM), UTM firewall, virtual private network (VPN) and security content management (SCM), except UTM firewall, the share of top five major manufacturers in the other four sub-industries shows an upward trend. In the fields of SCM and VPN, there is an obvious gap between industrial giants and other competitors, which shrinks in recent years. 3. The Market of Cybersecurity Service Enters a Stage of Rapid Development According to the data of International Data Corporation, in the five-year forecast period (from 2021 to 2025), the CAGR of China’s cybersecurity service market will 17

Data Source: Data Security Industry Insight Report 2022 published by CipherGateway Networks Technology Co., Ltd. 18 Data Source: Research Report on China’s Privacy Computing Industry in 2022 published by iResearch.

7.5 Cybersecurity Industry and Cybersecurity Technology Develop Stably

175

reach 20.8%. By 2025, the market scale of cybersecurity service will exceed 6.11 billion U.S. dollars. Notably, security consulting service remains the largest service sub-market in the next five years, and its scale will realize 2.46 billion U.S. dollars by 2025. As the demand for security operation continuously increases, the market of managed security service in China shows a robust momentum of development. In 2021, the market scale of managed security service in China rose by 61.2% year on year, up 92% over 2019. As International Data Corporation forecasts, in the next five years, the CAGR of cybersecurity service market in China will reach 31.9%. The “on-site service + remote support” model becomes the first choice for large enterprises, with remote managed service accepted and used by many small and medium-sized enterprises with its cost-performance advantage. 4. Cybersecurity Investment and Financing Continues to Expand As International Data Corporation predicts, by 2025, the total investment in global cybersecurity market will jump to 223.34 billion U.S. dollars, with a five-year CAGR of 10.4% compared with 2021. In particular, the investment scale in China’s cybersecurity market will reach 9.78 billion U.S. dollars, and would soar to 18.79 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, with a five-year CAGR of c. 17.9%, as well as a fast growth rate in the world. Data security becomes increasingly important. In 2021, data security and security service developed into a hot financing field in China, and related financing activities accounted for more than 10% of the total financing of cybersecurity.19

7.5.3 The Construction of Cybersecurity Industrial Parks Steadily Advances Various regions accelerate the development of cyber industrial clusters and the construction of park carriers with national influence. Beijing National Cybersecurity Industrial Park and Changsha National Cybersecurity Industrial Park deepen cooperation, with initial results in enterprise cultivation and cluster effect. Additionally, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu and other cities actively deploy the construction of cybersecurity industrial parks, establish cybersecurity industrial parks, and create an innovative highland for the integration of technologies, talents and enterprises in cybersecurity industry. Beijing National Cybersecurity Industrial Park makes more significant construction achievements. In February 2022, National Cybersecurity Industrial Park (Tongzhou Park) and National Engineering Research Center for Big Data Collaborative Security Technology signed a framework agreement on strategic cooperation to support corporate technological innovation and promote the research and development of key technologies and the transformation of technological achievements. In May 2022, Beijing Digital Economy Development Plan was released, which proposed 19

www.cnr.cn: “The Public Participate in Cybersecurity Construction and Jointly Safeguard the Digital Era”, April 28, 2022, http://m.cnr.cn/tech/20220428/t20220428_525809863.html.

176

7 The Construction of Cybersecurity

to boost the development of data security services such as security consulting design and security assessment. By February 2022, nearly 70 cybersecurity-related enterprises gathered in Tongzhou Park. Among them, seven enterprises, including Veda Information, won the title of “Specialized and Sophisticated SMEs” in Beijing.20 The construction of Changsha National Cybersecurity Industrial Park makes phased progress. In the first quarter of 2021, four centers of Changsha National Cybersecurity Industrial Park, i.e. Urban Cybersecurity Operation Center, Information and Innovation Industry Cooperation and Adaptation Center, Industrial Internet Security Application and Promotion Center and Cybersecurity Testing and Certification Center, were all completed and put into operation. By October 2021, the number of enterprises in advanced computing and information security industrial chain in Changsha rose to 201, with the total output value increasing to 14 billion yuan. In the past three years, Changsha National Cybersecurity Industrial Park introduced 47 key projects, with a total investment of 62.54 billion yuan. Phytium, Kylin, Huawei Kunpeng, QI-ANXIN, Sangfor and other leading enterprises have all settled in the park, which produces an effect of industrial agglomeration.21 The construction of newly-planned cybersecurity industrial parks accelerates. In May 2022, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology approved The Plan for the Establishment of National Cybersecurity Industrial Park (ChengduChongqing Region) to support the construction of National Cybersecurity Industrial Park (Chengdu-Chongqing Region), listed in the first-batch approved interprovincial national cybersecurity industrial parks. In January 2022, Shanghai released The Action Plan for Building an Innovation Highland in Cybersecurity Industry in Shanghai 2021–2023, which officially established Shanghai Cybersecurity Industrial Demonstration Park.

7.6 The Work of Cybersecurity Talent Training and Publicity and Education Steadily Progresses The competition in cyberspace is essentially the competition for talents. The improvement of the level of cybersecurity guarantee depends on building a high-level cybersecurity talent team. China continues to accelerate or strengthen the training of cybersecurity talents, enhance the publicity and education of cybersecurity, improve the awareness and skills of cybersecurity protection among Internet users, and cement the public defense of cybersecurity. 20

Tongzhou (Beijing) Released WeChat Official Account: “Great News! A National-Level Institution Signs with the Sub-Center! Pilot Projects Focus on These Affairs”, February 7, 2022, https:/ /mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzIxMDIwNjY2Mg==&mid=2247644640&idx=1&sn=acab38cfe 6f0f814b74359d481aa5b2f&chksm=9764df49a013565f8bd280e2a5ee8722229be48caf81b37fee5 9d041619e3cbf0c7b44b2ce36&scene=27. 21 https://www.rednet.cn: “Changsha, 2022! | Advance! Changsha Is Advancing Towards the Development Highland of National Information Security Industry”, October 15, 2021, https://www.cs. rednet.cn/content/2021/10/15/10299047.html.

7.6 The Work of Cybersecurity Talent Training and Publicity and Education …

177

7.6.1 The Demand for Cybersecurity Talents Continues to Grow, with the Problem of Insufficient Supply 1. The Demand for Cybersecurity Talents Outstrips Supply In various industries, as the penetration rate of cybersecurity significantly increases, the demand for cybersecurity talents continuously enlarges. According to the big data of BOSS Zhipin platform, in the first quarter of 2022, the demand for cybersecurity talents increased by 5% year on year. The proportion of typical cybersecurity posts in the entire industry doubled, and the demand increased by 87% year on year.22 In 2021, the total gap of professional cybersecurity talents in China reached more than 1.4 million, twice the number five years ago. 53.88% of the employees in cybersecurity industry agree that the current scale of cybersecurity talent teams in their companies cannot meet the practical demand, and 10.82% of the employees admit the shortage of cybersecurity talents in their companies.23 2. Ways for Cybersecurity Employees to Improve Their Capabilities Diversify As the survey suggests, 60% of cybersecurity employees notice that there are diverse ways to improve their professional skills and comprehensive quality, such as actively undertaking and promoting projects, taking the initiative in learning and research, and participating in various certificate examination and social training. Some employees improve their professional level and comprehensive quality by taking part in cybersecurity competitions and learning professional courses in universities. Social cybersecurity training becomes one of major choices for cybersecurity employees to improve their skills. For the choice of training direction, 59.25% of cybersecurity employees favor basic attack and defense technology, and more than 40% of cybersecurity employees have a high demand for the improvement in security management, security operation, security operation and maintenance and emergency response, as shown in Fig. 7.3. According to the acceptability of cybersecurity employees to cybersecurity training (off work) cycle, nearly 50% of the employees accept off-work cybersecurity training for 7–10 days.24

22

Data Source: 2022 Cybersecurity Talent Trends Report published by BOSS Zhipin platform. Data Source: Development Report on Cyber Information Security Industry Talents jointly published by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Talent Exchange Center et al. 24 Data Source: Development Report on Cyber Information Security Industry Talents jointly published by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Talent Exchange Center et al. 23

178

7 The Construction of Cybersecurity

Fig. 7.3 Cybersecurity training direction. Data Source Development Report on Cyber Information Security Industry Talents jointly issued by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Talent Exchange Center et al.

7.6.2 The Training of Cybersecurity Talents is Continuously Enhanced 1. The Construction of School of Cyber Science and Engineering Is Actively Promoted In order to implement the instructions of the CPC Central Committee and General Secretary Xi Jinping on building the first-class schools of cyber science and engineering, and promote the execution of The Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of Cybersecurity Discipline and Talent Training, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education initiate the demonstration project of the construction of the first-class schools of cyber science and engineering. Presently, 11 universities listed in the demonstration project, including Xidian University and Southeast University, have achieved remarkable results in policy guarantee, capital investment, basic condition, teaching team, student training and scientific research and innovation, and made important progress in the construction of school of cyber science and engineering. By June 2021, 11 universities had jointly built 102 laboratories with relevant Internet enterprises. After being listed in the demonstration project, the scale of teaching staff had increased by 44%, and the scale of student enrollment by 80%. In China, more than 60 universities had set up an independent school of cyber science and engineering, and more than 200 universities had set up cybersecurity-related majors, with the number of cybersecurity graduates exceeding 20,000. Box 1 First Dean Forum of National Cyber Security Schools Staged In October 2021, the First Dean Forum of National Cyber Security Schools was successfully staged. Deans of 11 top schools of cyber science and engineering

7.6 The Work of Cybersecurity Talent Training and Publicity and Education …

179

as well as heads of research institutions attended the forum, who shared the experience of the construction of top schools of cyber science and engineering, focused on the issues of talent ecology construction, research and education integration and industry and education collaboration, and deeply explored new ideas, systems and mechanisms of cybersecurity talent training

Box 2 Student-Innovation Funding Program in School of Cyber Science and Engineering In July 2022, under the guidance of Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, Topsec, QI-ANXIN, NIO, Ant Group, the first-class schools of cyber science and engineering, Cyber Security Association of China and China Internet Development Foundation jointly launched Student-Innovation Funding Program in School of Cyber Science and Engineering, with a total investment of 78 million yuan. The program plans to fund 1,200 students in innovative research and reward these excellent students for five consecutive years.25 At the initial stage, the funding object of the program covers full-time undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students of schools of cyber science and engineering of local universities listed in the construction demonstration project of the first-class schools of cyber science and engineering. Later, the funding program can extend to other schools of cyber science and engineering under specific circumstances

2. Positive Progress Is Made in the Construction of National Cybersecurity Talent Training and Innovation Base The construction of the National Cybersecurity Talent Training and Innovation Base (Cybersecurity Base for short) was fully launched in Wuhan in September 2016, committed to creating a healthy ecology of “talent training”, “technological innovation” and “industrial development”. In May 2022, Wuhan issued The Notice on Several Policies to Further Support the Development of National Cybersecurity Talent Training and Innovation Bases, which formulated ten relevant policies to support the development of cybersecurity bases and accelerate the construction of new cybersecurity bases. Up to now, all the top 50 cybersecurity enterprises in China have settled in security bases,26 forming three major industrial sectors, i.e. cybersecurity, big data and information technology service. Wuhan will establish an industrial 25

www.cac.gov.cn: “Student-Innovation Funding Program in School of Cyber Science and Engineering Was Officially Launched”, July 2, 2022, http://www.cac.gov.cn/2022-07/02/c_1658383610 137016.htm. 26 Hubei Daily: “With Great Resilience, Wuhan’s GDP Firmly Ranks Top Ten in China”, June 13, 2022, http://www.sw.wuhan.gov.cn/xwdt/mtbd/202206/ t20220613_1986179.shtml.

180

7 The Construction of Cybersecurity

fund for cybersecurity bases with a total scale of three billion yuan,27 which focuses on supporting the cultivation and introduction of cybersecurity and related industries, the industrialization of key technological research and development, and the construction of technological innovation platforms. 3. The Occupational System of Cybersecurity Improves In July 2022, newly-revised Occupational Classification System of the People’s Republic of China (The System for short) was publicized, marking 97 digital occupations (marked as S) for the first time and highlighting digital occupations in the new-edition System. One occupation and three new jobs submitted by Cyber Security Association of China, i.e. “data security engineering technician”, “cybersecurity consultant”, “critical information infrastructure security detection and protection technician” and “personal information protection compliance administrator”, have been approved, promoting the construction of a cybersecurity occupational system. 4. The Training of Cryptography Talents and Data Security Talents Is Strengthened Cryptography talents and data security talents play an important part in cybersecurity talent teams. China actively strengthens the training of cryptography talents and data security talents. In the autumn of 2021, seven universities, including Xidian University and Nankai University, started to recruit the first-group undergraduate students in cryptography. In 2022, 13 universities set up the undergraduate major of “Cryptographic Science and Technology”,28 and many universities successively set up school of cryptography. National Engineering Research Center for Big Data Collaborative Security Technology and Guizhou Big Data Security Engineering Research Center launch the training for registered data security officers, registered data security engineers and data security maturity model (DSMM) evaluators. In 2022, two special training courses for data security talents were carried out, which played a positive role in enlarging professional teams of data security and strengthening the training of data security talents.

7.6.3 Remarkable Achievements Are Made in Cybersecurity Publicity and Education and Security Awareness Cultivation 1. National Cybersecurity Publicity Week, National Security Education Day and Other Activities Consolidate Public Defense of Cybersecurity

27

Wuhan Municipal People’s Government: The Notice on Several Policies to Further Support the Development of National Cybersecurity Talent Training & Innovation Bases, May 13, 2022, http:// www.wuhan.gov.cn/zwgk/xxgk/zfwj/gfxwj/202205/t20220513_1971126.shtml. 28 Data Source: National Cipher Administration.

7.6 The Work of Cybersecurity Talent Training and Publicity and Education …

181

Protecting cybersecurity means a common responsibility of the whole society, which calls on governments, enterprises, social organizations and the vast number of Internet users to participate in public defense of cybersecurity. Since 2014, National Cybersecurity Publicity Week has been held for eight consecutive sessions, which effectively promotes the publicity and education of cybersecurity into institutions, enterprises, schools and communities, and enhances the awareness and skills of cybersecurity protection among the public. In 2021, National Cyber Security Publicity Week continued the theme of “Cybersecurity Serves the People, Cybersecurity Depends on the People”, and comprised nine sub-forums including “vehicle data security”, “critical information infrastructure security standards” and “new-type smart city security”. In combination with the major theme of “the Centenary of the Communist Party of China”, National Cyber Security Publicity Week focuses on “delivering services to the people in a practical way”, and creates a strong social atmosphere in which everyone participates in the construction of cybersecurity and shares the achievements of cybersecurity. Local governments actively carry out a variety of cybersecurity education activities. In April 2022, Beijing held the “9th Capital Cybersecurity Day”, organized “Internet clean-up campaign 2022 cybersecurity knowledge award-winning Q&A”, distributed Internet Security Handbook, and launched a series of livestreaming of “Young Policemen Talking on Cybersecurity”, which popularized common mail security, password security, device security and telecom network fraud security prevention, discussed security problems in the use cases of shopping, job hunting and travel among Internet users, further enhanced the awareness of cybersecurity of the whole society, and improved the capability of cybersecurity protection among the public. Enterprises and social organizations also carry out extensive publicity and education activities to help cultivate cybersecurity awareness. From May to July 2021, Cyber Security Association of China organized the activities of “Celebrating the Centenary of the Communist Party of China· Cybersecurity Publicity Tour in China” in Shanghai and Wuhan, and compiled the legal guidance book General Knowledge of Personal Information Protection, which played a positive role in promoting public awareness of cybersecurity. In June 2022, China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance hosted the salon of “Focusing on Critical Information Infrastructure Security and Exploring New Direction of Cybersecurity” to explore new paths of multidimensional critical information infrastructure security. In July 2022, the “10th West Lake · Cybersecurity Conference” was successfully held, and ten major trends of cybersecurity were released at the “Cybersecurity Trends Sub-Forum” sponsored by Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, i.e. top-level design of cybersecurity, active immunity trusted computing, privacy computing, data security governance, new technology and application security, security protection of critical information infrastructure, cybersecurity insurance, software supply chain security, digital currency security, and the integration of cybersecurity education, technology and industry. This aroused wide attention from the society. 2. Internet Users’ Satisfaction with Cybersecurity Increases

182

7 The Construction of Cybersecurity

In August 2021, 135 national cybersecurity industrial associations and relevant social organizations jointly launched the annual cybersecurity satisfaction survey among Internet users for the fourth time. A total of 2.84 million samples were collected, covering more than 400 prefecture-level cities in various provinces and some overseas regions, and attracting millions of Internet users to participate. 164,347 comments and suggestions were received. According to the survey, in 2021, the satisfaction index of Internet users’ sense of cybersecurity reached 73.422 (full score of 100), which signaled a relatively high level. Vis-à-vis previous years, the satisfaction of Internet users’ sense of cybersecurity leapt, and positive evaluation of Internet users on the protection of personal information significantly increased, with the positive evaluation up by 7.11% and the negative evaluation down by 11.24%.29

29

Data Source: Survey Report on Satisfaction with Cybersecurity of National Internet Users in 2021, December 6, 2021, http://www.rmzxb.com.cn/c/2021-12-07/3000054.shtml.

Chapter 8

Rule-of-Law Construction in Cyberspace

8.1 Outline General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes that “we should take the governance of the Internet as a basic approach, continuously accelerate the formulation and improvement of laws and regulations on the Internet, promote the law-based management, construction and use of the Internet, and ensure the healthy operation of the Internet on the track of the rule of law”. This provides scientific guidance for rule-of-law construction in cyberspace. With the deep development of digitalization, networking and intelligence, the systematic construction of law in cyberspace in China reaches a new level. With the strategic deployment of the 14th Five-Year Plan, in the past year, China took legal approaches as an important support for digital governance and achieved phased results in the construction of digital law. Law plays an increasingly important role in cyberspace governance. The legislation in cyberspace highlights the digital field and the legal system takes shape. The law-enforcement in cyberspace is continuously promoted, with remarkable results in cyberspace governance. In order to implement relevant requirements of The Cybersecurity Law, The Data Security Law and The Personal Information Protection Law, China has released detailed supporting provisions, revised The Measures for Cybersecurity Review, and issued The Administrative Provisions on the Algorithmic Recommendation of Internet Information Services, The Administrative Provisions on the Account Information of Internet Users and The Measures for the Assessment of Data Exit Security. The legislation, law-enforcement and jurisdiction in the fields of market-oriented allocation of data elements, algorithmic governance, platform competition, online trading and livestreaming are carried out systematically. Rule-of-law construction in cyberspace is deepened in practice. The construction of “Digital China” and the construction of “Rule-of-Law in China” are integrated. These provide robust support for promoting the modernization of national governance systems and governance capability.

© Publishing House of Electronics Industry 2024 China Internet Development Report 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5130-7_8

183

184

8 Rule-of-Law Construction in Cyberspace

8.2 The Legal System of Cybersecurity Significantly Improves and Comprehensively Raises the Capability or Level of Cyberspace Governance and Management Protecting cybersecurity has been the primary and basic goal of cyberspace governance. Cybersecurity calls for multi-perspective and all-round guarantee, covering critical information infrastructure supply chain security, data security, national security, etc. The cybersecurity review system directly involves preventing the security risks of critical information infrastructure, cybersecurity and data security and eventually implements the requirements for the guarantee of national security. Legal structure that includes The Cybersecurity Law, The Data Security Law and The Personal Information Protection Law improves, and administrative regulations and departmental rules such as The Regulations on the Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure Security, The Measures for Cybersecurity Review and The Measures for the Assessment of Data Exit Security, have been issued successively. To implement legal requirements, law-enforcement departments have strictly enforced the law in the field of rectifying the illegal collection and use of personal information on apps and achieved significant results.

8.2.1 The Protection System of Critical Information Infrastructure Security Takes Shape Critical information infrastructure constitutes national important strategic resources, and involves national security, national economy and people’s livelihood and social public interests. In particular, with the current model of digital society, critical information infrastructure plays a fundamental or overall supporting role. Presently, the security situation of critical information infrastructure remains grim, and incidents in cyberattacks and threats occur frequently. Cyberattack and defense that center on the security of critical information infrastructure evolves into the main battlefield of cyberspace confrontation among countries. In April 2021, the State Council adopted The Regulations on the Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure Security, which would be implemented in September 2021. The Regulations implements and optimizes relevant provisions on the protection of critical information infrastructure in The Cybersecurity Law, clarifies the responsibilities of various parties in the protection of critical information infrastructure, proposes a series of guarantee and promotion measures, and further improves the protection system of critical information infrastructure security. Local governments at various levels attach great importance to the protection of critical information infrastructure security in major industrial fields. Currently, some regions start relevant legislative practice. In March 2022, the 32nd Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region deliberated and adopted The Regulations on the Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure Security in Xinjiang Uygur

8.2 The Legal System of Cybersecurity Significantly Improves …

185

Autonomous Region, which shall come into force on June 15, 2022. The regulation adheres to the principles of comprehensive coordination, division of responsibilities, legal protection and joint protection, launches the systems of department and operator responsibilities, proposes measures such as conducting security monitoring and early warning, promoting information notification, ordering correction within a specified time limit and making rectification of risk fields, and improves the protection system of critical information infrastructure security in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

8.2.2 The Legislation, Law-Enforcement and Jurisdiction of Personal Information Protection Advance Side by Side In the information era, the rights and interests related to personal information face unprecedented challenges, and personal information protection attracts wide attention. Under such circumstances, various departments like Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission actively strengthen personal information protection, and intensively issue laws and regulations on personal information protection, in a bid to build a “firewall” for personal information protection. Law-enforcement departments heavily combat and severely punish illegal acts that infringe personal information. Judicial departments actively promote the implementation of publicinterest litigation provisions for personal information protection. In August 2021, the 30th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress voted and adopted The Personal Information Protection Law, which would take effect on November 1, 2021. In order to implement relevant requirements of The Personal Information Protection Law, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and relevant departments issues The Administrative Provisions on the Account Information of Internet Users and supporting regulations. As The Data Security Law and The Personal Information Protection Law are successively implemented, departments in charge of cyberspace affairs at various levels nationwide enforce laws in the field of personal information protection, and achieve remarkable results. To address serious illegal collection and use of personal information on 26 mobile apps such as Didi Chuxing and Didi Enterprise edition, relevant app stores are notified to remove them according to law. Noteworthily, a fine of 8.026 billion yuan was imposed on DiDi Global Inc. in July 2022. Simultaneously, relevant operators are required to earnestly rectify the problems in strict accordance with legal requirements and with reference to relevant national standards, so as to guarantee the security of users’ personal information. To tackle the problem of illegal collection and use of personal information on mobile apps such as WTI, Liangongbao and Fast Typing Method, relevant departments take measures to remove them according to law.

186

8 Rule-of-Law Construction in Cyberspace

In August 2021, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate issued The Notice on Implementing The Personal Information Protection Law and Promoting the Public-Interest Litigation of Personal Information Protection. The Notice stresses that sensitive personal information should be strictly controlled, personal information of special groups should be accurately protected, and large-scale personal information of more than one million people should be especially regulated, so as to quicken the implementation of public-interest litigation provisions. In 2021, procuratorial organs handled more than 2,000 public-interest litigation cases in the field of personal information protection, nearly three times that of 2020. General speaking, while strengthening the legislation of personal information protection, law-enforcement and judicial departments step up efforts to give play to the synergy and co-governance effect among various departments and implement personal information protection in an all-round way. Relevant Case (An AI Software Uses the Image of a Natural Person to Create Virtual Persons Without Authorization and Constitutes Infringement: “AI Companion” Software Infringes on Personal Rights) In a smart phone accounting software, users can independently create or add “AI Companion” (“AI Role” for short), set the name, image, relationship with users and mutual address of “AI Companion”, and determine the interaction content between “AI Companion” and users via the setting of systematic functions. This is termed as “control” by the system. A man surnamed He, the plaintiff of the case, is a public figure. Without the plaintiff’s consent, “AI Companion” marked with the plaintiff’s name and portrait appeared in the software. Simultaneously, the defendant opened the role to many users with algorithmic application, allowing users to upload a large number of the plaintiff’s “expression packages” and create text-picture interactive content to realize the function of “control” of “AI companion” Beijing Internet Court found that in the software involved in the case, the user used the name and portrait of the plaintiff to create virtual persons, produce interactive materials, and project the overall image that integrated the plaintiff’s name, portrait and personality characteristic onto the AI role. The AI role generated the virtual image of the plaintiff, and the defendant’s behavior meant the use of overall personality image including the plaintiff’s portrait and name. Meanwhile, users can set the identity relationships with the AI role and any mutual appellations, and “control” the AI role through the production of materials to actualize the experience of real interaction with the plaintiff. The defendant argued that the above functional settings in this case also involved infringement on personal freedom and dignity of natural persons

8.2 The Legal System of Cybersecurity Significantly Improves …

187

8.2.3 The System of Cybersecurity Review Improves Presently, China faces increasingly prominent risks to national security in cyberspace governance. Particularly, national infrastructure information and national core data become important targets for foreign intelligence agencies to steal secrets. China implements the system of cybersecurity review, which helps to prevent risks to supply chain security, realize the controllability of security products and services, and further augment the capability to respond to major risks and challenges in cyberspace. In November 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and other 12 departments jointly issued The Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which would come to effect on February 15, 2022. The Measures for Cybersecurity Review completely establishes a full-process system of cybersecurity review. It restricts “national security risks” to a controllable range in various chains of the whole process through the pre-review of “critical information infrastructure security risks” and “cybersecurity and data security risks”, the implementation of security management obligations of multiple parties in the process, and the improvement of the before-during-after-event supervision with normalized public supervision mechanism. In June 2022, Office of Cybersecurity Review summoned the leaders of Tongfang Knowledge Network Technology Co., Ltd. for talks, and launched a cybersecurity review of it.

8.2.4 The System of Data Governance Continues to Deepen With the rapid development of new-generation information technologies such as cloud computing and IoT, the data volume generated by various sectors and industries increase exponentially. With the massive scale of data, it is an urgent task to consider how to manage and utilize data and maximize the value of data. The construction of a scientific and complete data governance system can standardize the use and transmission of data, achieve the orderly development of data in the full lifecycle, provide an important guarantee for realizing data security and data value, establish a solid foundation for the healthy development of industries and national AI strategy, and promote the high-quality growth of digital economy. In November 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission issued The Regulations on the Administration of Cyber Data Security (Draft for Comments), which proposed to establish a data classification and grading protection system, improve a data transaction management system, a data security management system and data security emergency response mechanism, form a data security audit system, build the bases for the construction of data cross-border gateway and the public service of cyber identity authentication, and enhance the operability of The Cybersecurity Law, The Data Security Law and other data security management systems. In July 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission released The Measures for the Assessment on Data Exit Security, which would go into effect on September

188

8 Rule-of-Law Construction in Cyberspace

1, 2022. The implementation of the Measures aims to standardize data exit activities, protect the rights and interests related to personal information, safeguard national security and social public interests, and boost the cross-border security and free flow of data. Simultaneously, it is clearly specified that the Measures is applicable to the security assessment of important data and personal information collected and generated by data processors in the operation in China. As stated, in the assessment of data exit security, relevant departments should adhere to the principles of combining the before-event assessment and continuous supervision as well as the combination of risk self-assessment and security assessment. Besides, the Measures stipulates the cases for the assessment of data exit security, as well as specific requirements, assessment procedures, supervision and management systems, legal responsibilities and compliance rectification requirements related to the assessment of data exit security. The construction and improvement of a data classification and grading protection system constitute an important governance means and a management measure taken in the process of data security governance. In December 2021, national security authorities cracked an important case of spying for overseas institutions and illegally providing them with the data of high-speed railway. This is the first case that the data involved have been identified as intelligence since the implementation of The Data Security Law, as well as the first case of endangering national security in relation to the operation security of high-speed railway in China. Since 2021, various regions have successively issued laws and regulations on data, which take promoting industrial utilization and development of data as basic orientation, accelerate data flow, development and utilization to the maximum and demonstrate the characteristics of local data governance. For example, The Data Regulations in Shanghai promotes data utilization via data protection in the legislation, and highlights three chains, i.e. the guarantee of data rights and interests, the flow and utilization of data and the management of data security. The Data Regulations in Shenzhen Special Economic Zone proposes that market entities can independently use and increase profits according to law for data products and services generated by legally processing data, encouraging market entities to formulate data corporate standards. The Regulations for the Development of Big Data in Fujian Province closely follows the status quo and needs of the development and application of big data in Fujian, conducts institutional design for important issues in data collection and generation, aggregation and sharing and opening and development, and clearly stipulates the authority of relevant entities. The Regulations for Public Data in Zhejiang Province focuses on public data, determining the establishment of an integrated intelligent public data platform at the provincial, municipal and district levels that comprises infrastructure, data resources, application support and a business application system, backed by policies and systems, standards and regulations, organizational security and cybersecurity systems.

8.3 Relevant Departments Strengthen the Governance of Cyberspace …

189

8.3 Relevant Departments Strengthen the Governance of Cyberspace Ecology According to Law and Create a Clear Cyberspace As social digitalization advances in an all-round way, cyberspace becomes an important field of social governance. A healthy and orderly cyberspace ecology helps to maintain the harmony and stability of society and protect citizens’ legitimate rights and interests. Relevant departments have progressively formulated and improved rules on cyberspace governance. Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and other departments also take multiple measures to ensure the optimization and development of cyberspace governance. In September 2021, General Office of the CPC Central Committee and General Office of the State Council issued The Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of Cyber Civilization, which provided the guiding requirements for the governance of cyberspace ecology.

8.3.1 Strictly Managing the Account Information of Internet Users In recent years, various Internet information services developed rapidly. The account information of Internet users becomes an important carrier for users to display their personality and communicate online. However, the use of Internet accounts to spread false information and commit cyber violence also occurs frequently. Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission severely punishes website platforms, accounts and apps according to law, such as Sina Weibo, douban, WeChat, Baidu Tieba, Zhihu and Kingsoft Antivirus, which seriously violate relevant regulations on the management of Internet information content. In order to regulate the management of account information of Internet users, in June 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission issued The Administrative Provisions on the Account Information of Internet Users, which came into force on August 1, 2022. The Administrative Provisions specifies the scope of the information of Internet users, requires the providers of Internet information services to carry out real-identity verification and to strictly perform main responsibilities of the management of account information, and stipulates that departments in charge of cyberspace affairs should establish and improve working mechanism with relevant competent departments and coordinate the supervision and management of account information of Internet users. The Administrative Provisions helps to maintain ideological security, social fairness and justice and the legitimate rights and interests of Internet users, prevent and resolve national security risks, protect the healthy ecology of cyberspace, publicize socialist core values, and create clear cyberspace.

190

8 Rule-of-Law Construction in Cyberspace

8.3.2 Improving Legislation on the Protection of the Minors in Cyberspace In China, there are 183 million underage Internet users, with an Internet penetration rate of the minors reaching 94.9%.1 While expanding the learning and living space of the minors, Internet causes some problems. For example, the minors lack awareness and capability of the safe and reasonable use of the Internet, illegal or harmful information on Internet easily affect the physical and mental health of the minors, and personal information of the minors is abused. In March 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission again solicited public opinions on The Regulations on the Protection of the Minors in Cyberspace (Draft for Comments). Given the status quo and problems in the governance of the minors’ participation in online activities, the Draft requires providers of online products and services to establish and improve the anti-addiction system, forbids them from providing the minors with products and services that induce their addiction, reasonably limits the amount of single consumption and the amount of cumulative consumption per day of the minors in using online products and services, and prohibits them from providing paid services to the minors inconsistent with their civil capabilities. In recent years, with the rapid rise of new business forms of livestreaming, some platforms develop quickly and encounter such problems as the lack of responsibilities of platforms, the uneven quality of anchors and the addiction of the minors to reward. In May 2022, four departments, i.e. Office of the Central Steering Committee for the Construction of Spiritual Civilization, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, National Radio and Television Administration and Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, issued The Opinions on Regulating Online Livestreaming Rewards and Strengthening the Protection of the Minors. The Opinions implements the provisions in The Cybersecurity Law and The Law on the Protection of the Minors, improves the protection mechanism of the minors, and puts forward such measures as prohibiting the minors from participating in livestreaming reward, strictly preventing the minors from engaging in anchors, and optimizing and upgrading the “youth model” in livestreaming.

8.3.3 Promulgating the Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services In recent years, websites, apps and forums with religious content sprung up, which led to some prominent problems. Against such a backdrop, in December 2021, five departments, i.e. National Religious Affairs Administration, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of National Security, jointly formulated The Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services, which would 1

Data Source: The 49th Statistical Report on China Internet Development published by CNNIC.

8.4 Relevant Departments Continue to Deepen the Governance of Internet …

191

come into force on March 1, 2022. The Measures clearly stipulates that those who engage in Internet religious information services shall apply to local departments in charge of religious affairs of provincial people’s governments, that online sermons shall be organized and implemented by religious organizations, religious institutions and monasteries and churches that have obtained the license of offering Internet religious information services, and that all organizations or individuals are forbidden to collect donations in the name of religion via Internet. The promulgation of the Measures implements the spirit of National Religious Work Conference, ensures cybersecurity and ideological security, and meets with the inevitable requirements of the governance of cyberspace ecology.

8.4 Relevant Departments Continue to Deepen the Governance of Internet Platforms and Improve the Anti-monopoly Law-Enforcement Mechanism With the innovation and application of information technologies like big data, AI and IoT, platform economy enters a new stage of development driven by data and algorithm. Presently, effectively regulating the market of digital economy with legislation and supervising the behaviors of Internet platforms with law-enforcement form a main trend in the governance of Internet platforms and establish a comprehensive governance system of Internet platforms.

8.4.1 Strengthening the Management of Internet Platform Service Standards and the Responsibilities of Internet Platforms Various departments strengthen the management of Internet platform service standards and successively formulate relevant measures to enhance the responsibilities of platforms, strictly supervise the pop-up information push service, and tighten the management of the application service and content information. In September 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission issued The Opinions on Further Enhancing the Responsibilities of Information Content Website Platforms, which clarified specific requirements for website platforms to fulfill their responsibilities of information content management from ten aspects such as optimizing the rules of platform communities, strengthening the regulation of accounts and improving the quality of information content. In February 2022, the 1864th Meeting of the Judicial Committee of the Supreme People’s Court adopted The Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Cases of Online Consumption Disputes (I), which would come into force on March 15, 2022. The Provisions clarifies the responsibilities of businesses

192

8 Rule-of-Law Construction in Cyberspace

in standard terms of online consumption, misleading consumers by self-operated ecommerce platforms and false orders, comments and traffic, protects the legitimate rights and interests of consumers, and fosters the healthy and sustainable development of Internet economy. Additionally, in March 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission solicited public opinions on The Administrative Provisions on Internet Pop-up Information Push Service (Draft for Comments). As stated, pop-up push information shall be reviewed, permitted or approved by relevant competent authorities according to law, and the content shall be subject to compliance review. The Provisions also bans inducing users to click, implementing traffic fraud, traffic hijacking and other acts. In June 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission issued newlyrevised The Regulations on the Management of Mobile Internet App Information Service, which would take effect on August 1, 2022. The Regulations aims to further regulate mobile Internet apps according to law and promote the healthy and orderly development of app information services. Simultaneously, the Regulations requires that app providers and app distribution platforms should fulfill main responsibilities of information content management, and establish and improve management systems such as the management of information content security, the governance of information content ecology, the protection of data security and personal information and the protection of the minors, so as to guarantee cybersecurity and maintain healthy cyber ecology. A series of special regulation documents for specific fields in cyberspace are released. This demonstrates that the work of cyberspace governance is improved, and the legal responsibilities of various platforms are enhanced, which can better protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons and other organizations, promote socialist core values and create clear cyberspace.

8.4.2 Promoting the Operation of Livestreaming Marketing According to Laws and Regulations In recent years, livestreaming marketing has played an important role in boosting the economy and enriching people’s spiritual and cultural life. Yet, it has induced such problems as the lack of entity responsibilities, unhealthy ecology of information content and the chaos in commercial marketing. In March 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, State Taxation Administration and State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued The Opinions on Further Standardizing the Profit Behaviors of Livestreaming and Promoting Healthy Industrial Development, which focused on building a long-term mechanism for cross-departmental collaborative supervision, strengthening the regulation and guidance of the profit behaviors of livestreaming, and encouraging and supporting

8.4 Relevant Departments Continue to Deepen the Governance of Internet …

193

the operation of livestreaming according to laws and regulations, and accelerating the standardized development of livestreaming industry. As the Opinions stresses, livestreaming platforms should better implement management responsibilities, strengthen the registration management and classification and grading management of livestreaming accounts, and support law-enforcement activities. Besides, the behavior of livestreaming marketing should be further regulated to maintain market order, tax management should be standardized to improve tax management and compliance and combat tax-related crimes, and coordination and joint governance should be deepened to form a joint regulatory force. The formulation of the Opinions helps to maintain a fair market competition environment for livestreaming and promote the healthy development of livestreaming industry, signaling that livestreaming enters the era of comprehensive and standardized regulation.

8.4.3 Augmenting the Anti-monopoly Legislation and Law-Enforcement of Platforms The Plan for Development of the Digital Economy During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period proposes to “highlight the basic role of policies on competition, lay equal emphasis on promoting development and regulation, improve collaborative regulatory rules and regulations, strengthen anti-monopoly and prevent the disorderly expansion of capital, and boost the healthy and sustainable development of platform economy”. In June 2022, the 35th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress voted and adopted The Decision on Amending The Anti-Monopoly Law of the People’s Republic of China, which would come into force on August 1, 2022. The newly-revised The Anti-Monopoly Law of the People’s Republic of China aims to implement the decision and deployment of the CPC Central Committee on strengthening anti-monopoly and preventing the disorderly expansion of capital, and further clarify the applicable rules of anti-monopoly-related systems in the field of platform economy in line with the models and characteristics of competition in platform economy. The amendment improves and optimizes the anti-monopoly system of platform, adding that operators shall not abuse data and algorithm, advantages in technology and capital and platform rules to eliminate and restrict competition. As it clearly rules, if operators with market dominance use data and algorithm as well as technological and platform rules to set obstacles and unreasonably restrict other operators, their acts can be viewed as the abuse of market dominance. The law further emphasizes the important role of technological factors like data and algorithm in determining monopolistic acts at the legislative level, and specifies what constitutes the abuse of market dominance, providing the core support for the development of anti-monopoly of platform economy and helping to improve the institutional mechanism of anti-monopoly law-enforcement. Relevant departments actively respond to the practical needs of the public and market, take a series of measures to control the disorder of platform competition,

194

8 Rule-of-Law Construction in Cyberspace

and clarify the direction and bottom line for platform competition, which ensure the virtuous circle of the competition order of Internet industry. In August 2021, State Administration for Market Regulation drew up The Provisions on Prohibiting Internet Unfair Competition (Draft for Public Comments), which aimed to stop and prevent Internet unfair competition, maintain the market order of fair competition, protect the legitimate rights and interests of operators and consumers, and ultimately foster the standardized, sustainable and healthy development of digital economy. In December 2021, State Administration for Market Regulation established Competition Policy and Big Data Center, whose main responsibilities are to research policy theories in anti-monopoly, competition policy, platform economy and other fields, undertake technological support in anti-monopoly law-enforcement, market monitoring, electronic evidence collection and consolidation and big data analysis, and provide support for the normalization and scientificalness of anti-monopoly law-enforcement. Relevant Case In October 2021, State Administration for Market Regulation made a decision of administrative penalty according to law, ordering Meituan to stop its illegal activities and imposing a fine of 3.442 billion yuan at 3% of its sales revenue in China in 2020. The administrative penalty decision issued by State Administration for Market Regulation rules that, since 2018, Meituan has abused its dominant position in the service market of online catering takeaway platform in China, obstructing operators on the platform from operating on other competitive platforms, excluding and restricting relevant market competition, harming the legitimate rights and interests of operators and consumers on the platform, and hampering the innovative development of platform economy, without justifiable reasons. In brief, Meituan’s acts constitute the abuse of market dominance prohibited by Paragraph (4), Section 1, Article 17 of The Anti-Monopoly Law, i.e. “Without justifiable reasons, the counterparty can only trade with it or with its designated operator”

8.5 Relevant Departments Tussle with the Challenges and Risks to Digital Technology and Strengthen the Governance of the Rules on Digital Technology Presently, new technologies represented by AI, IoT, blockchain and 5G spawn a series of new applications and new business forms and boost digital economy. In 2021, the legislation and policy-formulation in new technologies and new application fields in China accelerated, which marked the first year of algorithmic regulation. The toplevel design of IoV framework continuously improves, and new business forms such

8.5 Relevant Departments Tussle with the Challenges and Risks to Digital …

195

as metaverse, Web 3.0 technology and non-fungible token (NFT) arouse widespread attention from various industries. Simultaneously, to meet the governance requirements of new technologies and applications, the construction of digital-technology standards advances synchronously, which timely copes with the opportunities and challenges from digital technologies.

8.5.1 Basic Framework of Algorithm Governance Takes Shape As the underlying architecture of Internet platform, algorithm invigorates digital economy and promotes social development, with relevant problems becoming prominent, e.g. algorithmic manipulation, algorithmic discrimination, algorithmic black box, etc. In September 2021, nine ministries and commissions, including Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science and Technology, issued The Guiding Opinions on Strengthening the Comprehensive Governance of Internet Information Service Algorithm, which proposed to gradually establish a comprehensive governance pattern of algorithmic security with a sound governance mechanism, a perfect regulatory system and a standardized algorithmic ecology in three years, ushering in the first year of comprehensive governance of algorithm. The Guiding Opinions embodies the innovative spirit. For example, it firstly puts forward algorithmic classification and grading, lays emphasis on strengthening the openness and transparency of algorithm, and requires to form the correct orientation of algorithm. In December 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and other three departments jointly issued The Administrative Provisions on the Recommendation of Internet Information Service Algorithm, which regulates the recommendation activities of Internet information service algorithm, and stipulates the information service standards, user rights and interests protection, supervision and management and legal responsibilities of algorithmic recommendation services. Specifically, the Provisions enriches and optimizes users’ rights in terms of algorithmic transparency, algorithmic interpretation, personalized exit push, user-tag independent selection and other aspects, comprehensively consolidates platform responsibilities in terms of page ecology, algorithmic model, human intervention and other aspects, proposes innovative regulatory ideas such as algorithmic filing and algorithmic evaluation, and contributes Chinese wisdom and Chinese model in terms of the governance of new technologies and new applications. With regard to law enforcement, the comprehensive governance of algorithm also deepens. In order to strengthen the comprehensive governance of Internet information service algorithm and promote the implementation and effectiveness of The Administrative Provisions on the Recommendation of Internet Information Service Algorithm, in April 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission played

196

8 Rule-of-Law Construction in Cyberspace

a leading role in launching “Internet clean-up campaign · 2022 algorithmic comprehensive governance”, which focused on self-inspection and self-correction, on-site inspection, algorithmic filing, entity responsibility and rectification within a time limit to carry out continuous law-enforcement actions. Presently, the legislation and law enforcement improve synchronously, which jointly promotes the normalization and standardization of the comprehensive governance of algorithm.

8.5.2 The Top-Level Design of IoV Framework Continues to Improve As a strategic direction in the development of automobile industry, intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) stay in the early stage of commercialization that features rapid technological evolution and accelerated industrial layout. In August 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Transport jointly issued Several Provisions on the Management of Vehicle Data Security (For Trial Implementation), which would take force on October 1, 2021. The Provisions aims to regulate the activities of vehicle data processing, promote the reasonable development and utilization of vehicle data, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of various parties. It includes all operators in the whole industrial chain of automobile industry into its scope of application, realizes the regulation of the whole industry and the whole chain of automobile industry, and highlights strengthening the governance of data security in automobile industry. In August 2021, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued The Opinions on Strengthening the Access Management of Intelligent Connected Vehicle Manufacturing Enterprises and Products, intending to strengthen the access management of ICV manufacturing enterprises and products, clarify the management requirements of vehicle data security, cybersecurity and online upgrading, guide ICV manufacturing enterprises to enhance capability building, strictly control the quality and safety of products, and effectively safeguard citizens’ life and property safety and public safety. In March 2022, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued The Guidelines for the Construction of the Cybersecurity and Data Security Standard System of Internet of Vehicles. The updating and improvement of IoV system adapt to the different development stages of ICVs and support the healthy development of the industrial security.

8.6 Empowering Digital Law-Based Reform and Jointly Building …

197

8.5.3 Regulations on the Governance of AI and Deep Synthesis Technology Improve AI and deep synthesis technology mature, and the content of deep synthesis develops rapidly. More enterprises and institutions use deep synthesis technology to provide voice synthesis, chat guide and other services, which breeds technological abuse and new challenges. In order to guide the healthy development of AI and deep synthesis technology, in September 2021, National Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional Committee released The Code of Ethics for New-Generation Artificial Intelligence, which deeply implements The Development Plan for New-Generation Artificial Intelligence and The Principles of New-Generation AI Governance, enhances the ethical and behavioral awareness of AI among the whole society, actively guides responsible AI research and development and application activities, and promotes the healthy development of AI. As a new application in the AI field, deep synthesis technology, represented by deep learning and virtual reality, is used to produce texts, images, audio and videos, with widespread attention from social media platforms. However, large-scale popularization and application of deep synthesis technology easily cause technological abuse, which must be strictly prevented. In January 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission issued The Administrative Provisions on the Deep Synthesis of Internet Information Services (Draft for Comments), which clearly stipulated the regulatory requirements for the production of audio and video content by using generative and synthetic algorithms as well as new technologies and applications such as deep learning and virtual reality, further clarified and optimized the use cases of deep synthesis technology, and determined the information-security obligations of providers and users of deep synthesis services. Compared with previous ones, the Provisions becomes more specific and targeted based on the characteristics of deep synthesis technology.

8.6 Empowering Digital Law-Based Reform and Jointly Building a Harmonious Law-Based Society As an important part of the reform of law in the new era, digital law-based reform calls for thoroughly implementing Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on law and Building China into a Cyber Power, deepening and substantiating the construction of digital law, and accelerating the construction of “Law-Based China” and “Digital China”. Judicial departments actively explore “smart jurisdiction” and “smart prosecution” to empower the whole process of handling cases and improve digital jurisdiction with technology. Departments in charge of cyberspace affairs strengthen the coordination mechanism of law in cyberspace, and use the advantages of technological platforms

198

8 Rule-of-Law Construction in Cyberspace

to actively popularize law and improve citizens’ literacy on law in cyberspace. Industrial associations actively call on Internet enterprises to operate according to regulations, follow the principle of honesty and self-discipline, and promote the healthy development of digital law-based society.

8.6.1 Smart Jurisdiction Facilitates the Development of Digital Law In recent years, judicial departments in China have actively used cutting-edge information technologies like Internet, big data, AI and blockchain to constantly develop new approaches and models of “smart jurisdiction”, deeply promote judicial modernization, and quicken the construction of “smart public prosecution”, “Internet + smart judicial services” and other models of “smart jurisdiction”. The construction of smart court continues to deepen. Various courts successively explore new casehandling models, actively introduce full-service online handling, full-process legal disclosure and all-round intelligent service, and thoroughly implement the idea of “smart jurisdiction” featuring “smart trial, smart execution, smart service and smart management” in judicial practice, so as to maximize the use of legal resources to achieve self-help public services. Local courts continue to build the “Internet + trial” model, vigorously construct standard Internet courts or online Internet courts, attempt to build the brain center of smart court, and realize the visualization, standardization and intelligence of court trial and execution in various regions. For example, local courts in Zhejiang Province promote the reform of paperless whole-process case-handling. Among them, Jiaxing Court innovatively applies the “3D + AI + blockchain” technology to digitally scan traditional physical evidences, integrates AI technology with modeling and imaging, uses blockchain technology for real-time evidence storage of model data, and establishes a “cloud physical-evidence room” that integrates data collection, data chaining and data management. This achieves the digital management, digital delivery, digital transfer and digital storage of physical evidences, effectively reduces the cost of the litigant’s evidence presenting, improves the convenience of the judge’s examination of physical evidences, further solves the problems of the court’s management, search and storage of physical evidences, and explores a new path for the digital transformation and paperless case-handling reform of national courts. The Supreme People’s Procuratorate attaches great importance to strengthening procuratorial work with science and technology, improves the top-level design of the application of AI technology in procuratorial work, vigorously promotes the application of modern technologies like big data and AI, and builds “smart procuratorial work”. In 2021, national procuratorial organs further promoted the construction of “smart procuratorial work”, gave full play to the important role of big data in punishing and preventing crimes and boosting national governance, provided technological guarantee for actively and steadily advancing the comprehensive, coordinated

8.6 Empowering Digital Law-Based Reform and Jointly Building …

199

and full development of “four types of procuratorial work”, and empowered socialist procuratorial work with Chinese characteristics as well as its higher-quality development. With remarkable progress of smart court, smart procuratorate and smart police, the digital and intelligent jurisdiction enters a new stage of development. In October 2021, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate issued The Development Plan for Procuratorial Security Work During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period, which required to promote the construction and application of “smart procuratorial work” and accelerate the improvement of information-based procuratorial security. In November 2021, national procuratorial organs deployed and launched the procuratorial business application system 2.0. Procuratorial organs at various levels have accepted around 3.65 million cases and concluded around 1.85 million cases via the system. In 2021, 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government in China completed the political-legal collaboration platform and launched the political-legal collaboration application, with more than 1.5 million cases (times) transmitted online.

8.6.2 Law Popularization in Cyberspace Wins Support Among the Public Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission establishes a coordination mechanism for legal work in cyberspace with the participation of 29 central departments, formulates, issues and implements The 8th Five-Year Plan for the Publicity and Education of Laws on Cyber Affair System 2021–2025 and The Opinions on Further Improving the Publicity and Education of Laws in Cyberspace in 2022, and deploys the work of law popularization in cyberspace. Besides, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission builds brands of law popularization in cyberspace, organizes and launches a series of activities of nationwide law popularization in cyberspace like “Law Popularization in Cyberspace Tour”, successively holds “2021 World Internet Conference Law in Cyberspace Forum”, “The First China Internet Civilization Conference Law in Cyberspace Forum” and other activities, and actively publicizes laws and regulations on protecting personal information and promoting digital economy growth through the conference platform. Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission strengthens the interpretation of laws with cases, uses typical cases in cyberspace to interpret laws to the public in a timely manner, and builds the interpretation of typical cases in cyberspace into an open course of law popularization in cyberspace. After the review and adoption of The Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (to be revised), Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission actively creates new media products for law popularization, and produces and pushes the program Teenagers Must Know the Law with the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and National Supervisory Commission, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, State Taxation Administration, National Bureau of Statistics and All-China Women’s Federation, so as to guide and urge

200

8 Rule-of-Law Construction in Cyberspace

Internet users to learn and understand law, give play to the online-review brand advantage of “Chinese Stories”, and promote the creation of new media works like OneMinute Rap Law Popularization of the Adults. Relevant departments actively play the role of overall planning and coordination, establish a coordination mechanism for the legal work in cyberspace, and further build Internet into the largest increment in the innovative development of law popularization. In order to constantly enhance the responsibilities in law popularization of Internet media, central news websites and major theory-based websites give full play to the advantages in content, resources, channels and talents, create high-quality works on law popularization in cyberspace, and set up columns on law popularization in cyberspace. For example, www.people. com.cn establishes columns such as “Public Views on Good and Helpful Laws” and “Public Comments on Law” and takes multiple measures to promote law popularization. www.legaldaily.com.cn plans and launches a series of new media innovative works like Xiaozhi and Xiaobao Search for Law · Expert’s Talk of Xi Jinping’s Thoughts on Law (micro video), so as to explain Xi Jinping’s thoughts on law from multiple angles. Local departments in charge of cyber affairs formulate law-popularization plans, strengthen social forces in law popularization in cyberspace, and make the idea of law in cyberspace ingrained in the public. Office of Xinjiang Cyberspace Affairs Commission, in conjunction with relevant departments, issues The Working Plan for Strengthening the Construction of Volunteer Teams of University Students on Law Popularization in Cyberspace, and forms volunteer teams on law popularization in cyberspace in 45 universities in Xinjiang. Office of Anhui Cyberspace Affairs Commission establishes the law-popularization brand of “Building Clear and Beautiful Cyberspace” and develops the applet of “Join Us and Answer Questions Together”. Office of Chongqing Cyberspace Affairs Commission organizes Internet media at various levels in Chongqing to launch more than 70 micro-films on law popularization. Office of Ningxia Cyberspace Affairs Commission, together with departments in education, trade union, youth league committee, women’s federation and people’s bank in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, implements online themed publicity activity of “Pooling Positive Energy for the Construction of Internet Civilization”, and mobilizes news media, government-service new media, Internet enterprises and the vast number of Internet users to actively interact. Office of Hebei Cyberspace Affairs Commission stages the online themed activity of “The Constitution Gives You the Most Solid Protection”, and publishes 330 original manuscripts on new media platforms.

8.6.3 Industrial Self-discipline Campaign Highlights the Awareness of Social Responsibility Integrity constitutes an important part of socialist core values, and strengthening the construction of integrity in cyberspace tallies with basic requirements for

8.6 Empowering Digital Law-Based Reform and Jointly Building …

201

Internet enterprises to implement their responsibilities. As important participants in cyberspace, Internet enterprises actively seek cooperation and jointly build an integrity platform in cyberspace. In 2021, Internet enterprises voluntarily carried out self-discipline campaign. For example, 33 Internet platforms signed The Convention on Anti-Monopoly and Self-Discipline of Internet Platform Operators, several Internet platforms jointly issued The Convention on Self-Discipline of Building Clear Ecology of Cyber Culture, more than 100 game enterprises signed The Convention on Self-Discipline of Preventing Addiction in Online Game Industry, and nearly 100 website platforms signed The Letter of Commitment of Internet Enterprises to Practically Fulfilling Their Responsibilities and Building Civilized Cyber Ecology. Local departments and industrial associations in cyberspace affairs play a leading role in organizing self-discipline campaigns among Internet enterprises. For example, in November 2021, China Federation of Internet Societies, together with 105 member units, released The Convention of Self-Discipline on the Application of Internet Information Service Algorithms at the First China Internet Civilization Conference to promote the construction of algorithm ethics. In July 2022, Cyber Security Association of China published The Convention of Self-Discipline on the Protection of Personal Information. 187 Internet enterprises has joined the convention and promised to take concerted action in the protection of personal information. In May 2022, The Convention of Self-Discipline in Internet Industry in Xi’an was officially released. Additionally, association standards, such as The Management System of Corporate Social Responsibility in Online Game Industry and The Evaluation Index System of Social Responsibilities Performed by Internet Platform Enterprises, were released. Industrial self-discipline means an effective measure to promote the healthy and orderly development of Internet industry. Industrial self-discipline campaigns lower the regulatory costs of law-enforcement departments and become a driving force for enterprises to expand the market in an innovative way.

Chapter 9

International Governance, Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace

9.1 Outline In 2022, under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the competition and game in the field of international cyberspace governance turned white hot. Geopolitical conflicts deeply affected cyberspace, with a prominent trend of group-based competition and game in the digital field. Uniform rules on global digital governance did not take shape, the trend of regionalization and fragmentation in the landscape of digital economy and trade rules intensified, and the competition for the dominance of rules and standards became increasingly fierce. Social media platforms played an increasingly prominent role in global major events, and various countries in the world vied for the battlefield of public opinions. Simultaneously, the call for peaceful cooperation in cyberspace proved stronger than ever. Various parties called for minimizing political disputes, strengthening international cooperation and jointly building a community with a shared future in cyberspace to maintain the development and stability of cyberspace. In his congratulatory letter to 2021 World Internet Conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that: “It is imperative for international community to join hands to seize opportunities and meet challenges by following the trend of informatization and digitalization, as well as networking and smart development” and “China is also willing to work with other countries in the world to make the digital civilization benefit people of all countries, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humankind”. Confronted with international landscape in cyberspace, China maintains strategic focus. Over the past year, Chins continuously consolidated the barrier for cybersecurity, boosted digital economy, strengthened the governance of the ecology of Internet information content, and painted a new picture of Building China into a Cyber Power. Besides, China carried out international exchanges and cooperation in cyberspace in an active and down-to-earth way, continued to advance the construction of a community with a shared future in cyberspace, and contributed China’s wisdom

© Publishing House of Electronics Industry 2024 China Internet Development Report 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5130-7_9

203

204

9 International Governance, Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace

and solutions to promoting the reform of a global Internet governance system, which fully demonstrated China’s responsibilities as a big country.

9.2 Circumstances of China’s Participation in International Cyberspace Governance The COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the competition among big countries accelerate the differentiation and adjustment of international landscape and aggravate the complex situation of international cyberspace governance. Geopolitical games have a profound impact on the process of international cyberspace governance. The competition for the dominance of rule-making based on digital economy heats up, and various countries lay stress on the application and governance of social media platforms.

9.2.1 The Influence of Geopolitics on International Cyberspace Governance Continues to Increase Presently, international pattern and order are quickly adjusted. Traditional global governance system dominated by the western powers faces challenges, and the trend extends to the cyber field. On the one hand, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict increases the risk of Internet fragmentation. In early 2022, Russia launched a special military operation against Ukraine, and various parties of international community participated in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict on the Internet. Cyberattacks emerged frequently, and the “suspension of network and service” occurred continually. The sanctions in the financial field extended to the cyber field. Private enterprises that controlled basic Internet technological resources obstructed the normal operation of Internet to a certain extent and harmed the cyber sovereignty of other countries. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has new impacts on the core fields of international cyberspace governance (e.g. the governance of Internet technological resources and Internet information content), enlarges the risks of Internet fragmentation, undermines the trust in global Internet governance mechanism among international community, and shakes international community’s confidence in global connectivity. On the other hand, the so-called “values alliance” causes pains to the development process of globalization. The United States initiates political groups and small circles targeted at several countries and grounded in values and ideology and releases A Declaration for the Future of the Internet, with an attempt to establish the U.S.-led digital alliances such as “Trans-Atlantic Partnership”, “QUAD” and “Indo-Pacific Digital Alliance” and build a hegemony system with new technologies. Besides, the United States selectively uses pseudo-multilateralism, defines international rules with the rules of several countries, and replaces international order

9.2 Circumstances of China’s Participation in International Cyberspace …

205

with the order of several countries, which exacerbates global instability and arouses widespread concern in international community. Guided by the idea of “working together to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace”, China continues to urge and promote global exchanges and cooperation in cyberspace, which injects stability and positive energy into international relations in a period of turbulence and transformation. In April 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022 and delivered the keynote speech “Rising to Challenges and Building a Bright Future Through Cooperation”. He put forward Global Security Initiative, and called on various countries to jointly tackle challenges to global governance, promote a global governance vision featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, carry forward common values of all mankind, and uphold mutual learning among different civilizations, so as to provide China’s solutions for safeguarding and practicing “true multilateralism”.

9.2.2 It is an Urgent Task to Formulate Uniform International Rules in the Field of Global Digital Governance Presently, uniform international rules and coordinated governance systems have not taken shape in global digital governance. Grounded in different demands for protecting their interests and competing for the dominance in the digital field, various countries formulate their digital laws, which fragmentizes global digital governance. For example, the European Union has successively passed Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act to strengthen the regulation of trans-national Internet giants in the fields of personal privacy protection, data security supervision and anti-monopoly. In 2021, the United States reviewed six anti-monopoly laws, which stood comparison with the anti-monopoly action that split AT and T in 1984, in terms of the impact on large Internet platform enterprises in the future. Emerging countries and developing countries continue to promote the formulation of laws and regulations on digital economy. However, as the models of digital governance fundamentally vary in different countries, their legal systems lack compatibility. This puts huge pressure on the development of Internet platform enterprises at home and abroad and hinders the sustainable and healthy growth of global digital economy. Global digital governance urges various countries to build mutual trust mechanism and deepen cooperation. In September 2021, General Secretary of the United Nations submitted the report Our Common Agenda to General Assembly of the United Nations, which proposed that various countries should strengthen digital cooperation, formulate global digital contracts, and avoid the fragmentation of the Internet and protect data, so as to ensure that everyone benefits from the development achievements in the digital field. China actively participates in international cooperation in digital economy

206

9 International Governance, Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace

as well as the formulation of relevant rules, and makes outstanding contributions to helping developing countries to bridge the digital divide, maintain and improve global digital governance mechanism, and tap new drivers for global economic growth, demonstrating the responsibilities of a big country in the digital era.

9.2.3 The Role of Social Media Platforms in Major Global Events Becomes Increasingly Prominent In recent years, social media platforms have been increasingly favored by Internet users owing to their timeliness and interactivity, playing an important role in major global events. On the one hand, social media platforms serve as an important window for foreign publicity. In the report of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, social media platforms represented by TikTok used multiple and mixed perspectives from traditional media, athletes and citizens to comprehensively display the vivid scenes of the Olympic Village, the opening and closing ceremonies and various sports events to global audience. This showed the real, multi-angle and all-round image of China to the world and conveyed Chinese proposition of consensus, cooperation and solidarity. On the other hand, social media play an increasingly prominent role in modern warfare. In the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, social media platforms evidently broke the form of “public opinion warfare” that featured embedded and monopolistic news reporting in traditional media era, and became a new field for the two parties to launch systematic cognitive warfare 1 Simultaneously, the problems of social media platforms, such as false information caused by new technologies, information-dissemination bias caused by the competition for the power of discourse and the profusion of false information caused by the lack of media responsibility, emerged. Various countries need to address these major problems in the competition for public opinion.

9.3 Existing Hot Issues in International Cyberspace Governance and Practices in China In 2022, as the game in cybersecurity continuously deepens and the innovation and transformation of IT industry accelerates, new issues in cyberspace governance continue to emerge. Cybersecurity, digital economy and Internet content governance become the fields where various countries actively explore and practice. As a builder, protector and contributor of cyberspace, in recent years, China has deepened the

1

Shen Yi: “In the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict, Global Social Media Become a New Field of Cognitive Warfare”, www.guancha.cn, March 26, 2022, https://www.guancha.cn/ShenYi/2022_03_26_6 31936_2.shtml

9.3 Existing Hot Issues in International Cyberspace Governance …

207

understanding of international cyberspace governance and explored China’s solutions to promoting the construction of a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

9.3.1 Cybersecurity With the rapid development of information technology and Internet, cybersecurity constitutes the strategic cornerstone of national security in the information era. Presently, the scope and content of cybersecurity threats continuously expand, and the situation and challenge concerning cybersecurity become increasingly serious and complex. On the one hand, in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the ideas of warfare and conflict have fully spread to cyberspace, and critical infrastructure has become the core battlefield of cybersecurity, with Internet infrastructure, applications and services “weaponized”. On the other hand, the United States continues to sensationalize “China threat theory in cyberattacks”, muster the allies to blame China for Microsoft Exchange hacking activities, and spread rumors about “cyberattacks from China”. China has firmly resisted cyberattacks and secret-theft. In recent years, China has been committed to protecting national cybersecurity and data security in a law-based way, and has successively issued laws such as The Code Law, The Cybersecurity Law, The Data Security Law, The Anti-Foreign Interference Law and The Regulations on the Security Protection of Critical Information Technology Facilities to continuously strengthen the security protection of critical information infrastructure and improve the capability of cybersecurity protection. Simultaneously, in response to the groundless accusations from the United States, Chinese entities have released The Report on Cybersecurity Response to disclose the truth of trans-national cyberattacks. In February 2022, Beijing Qi’an Pangu Lab Technology Co., Ltd. released a report, which disclosed complete technological details of the backdoor Bvp47 on the Linux platform from the United States as well as its association with the attack organization, confirming that the backdoor had invaded 45 countries and regions in the world. In March 2022, 360 released the report The Prologue to Cyber Warfare: The U.S. National Security Agency (APT-C-40) Has Launched Non-Discriminatory Attacks on the World for More Than Ten Years, which disclosed the long-term, largescale and systematic cyberattacks and penetration of the United States on critical information infrastructure in China and the world.

9.3.2 Digital Economy and Digital Trade Hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, global economy faces the risk of recession, and digital economy becomes a new momentum for global economic growth. Currently, the practice of international governance in

208

9 International Governance, Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace

the field of digital economy mainly focuses on how to get rid of the split and establish more uniform international rules. Now, new trends appear albeit the fact that various countries in the world have not yet reached an extensive consensus on international rules of digital economy. The bilateral, multilateral and regional mechanisms of digital economy develop rapidly. International trade treaties, e.g. United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, have been incorporated into the clauses of digital trade, with substantial progress made in the e-commerce negotiation under the framework of WTO. China attaches great importance to the development of digital economy and upgrades it as a national strategy. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly instructs that we must “implement the national rejuvenation strategy within a wider context of the once-in-a-century changes taking place in the world” and “build up the strength, quality and size of China’s digital economy”. China actively seizes the development opportunities in the digital era in the world, and participates in the promotion of international cooperation and rule-making in the digital field by applying for accession to international agreements. In 2021, China formally applied to join Digital Economy Partnership Agreement and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which not only helped China to strengthen cooperation in the field of digital economy with CPTPP members under a new development pattern, but also demonstrated China’s open attitude to actively participate in the formulation of global digital economy and trade. In January 2022, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) formally took effect, with China as a member state. Various governments and enterprises actively fulfill the commitments and rules of market opening in RCEP, expand import and export trade with RCEP member states, and contribute China’s strength to the global growth of digital economy.

9.3.3 Internet Content In the digital era, social media platforms become the main battleground of international news communication, gather hundreds of millions of user groups, and release huge influence. However, under the impact of a series of factors such as the normalization of the pandemic, economic downturn, international conflicts and fierce competition, social media platforms ferment hared speech, extremism and false news and even become tools for the game of big powers. Under such circumstances, the condition of self-regulation and autonomy that hinges on the rules of platform community no longer continues. Additionally, in terms of cross-border content governance, various countries have different environments in history, culture and security and stay in uneven stages of economic and social development. Therefore, it is hard for them to reach an international consensus on the legislation on the governance of Internet information content. Against such a backdrop, various countries formulate corresponding systems to strengthen the governance of Internet information content and

9.4 China Energetically Carries Out International Exchanges and Cooperation

209

explore how to guarantee the freedom of speech and maintain national political and social stability. China makes remarkable achievements in the exploration and practice of the governance of Internet information content and holds a safe lead in the governance of many fields such as deep synthesis and algorithm. In 2022, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission successively launched The Administrative Regulations on the Deep Synthesis of Internet Information Services (Draft for Comments) and The Administrative Regulations on the Algorithmic Recommendation of Internet Information Services, which played a leading role in global governance of deep synthesis content and algorithm, and provided the world with Chinese solutions for the rational and compliant application of new technologies. Additionally, the governance of Internet information content becomes an important dimension of international relations in the digital era, as well as a major field in China’s participation in international cyberspace governance. In major events like the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the Western community, represented by the United States, launched an information warfare and used overseas social media platforms to widely publish false information and even rumors about China, in a bid to discredit China, alienate China from other countries, and impair the internal and external environments for China’s peaceful and stable development. China actively made wellfounded responses to these acts, with its due contribution to cooling down world situation, which showed China’s responsibilities as a big country.

9.4 China Energetically Carries Out International Exchanges and Cooperation To actively build a community with a shared future in cyberspace means an inevitable choice to achieve the healthy, safe and sustainable development of global Internet, as well as an inherent requirement for creating an open, healthy and safe digital ecology. Over the past year, China actively carried out international exchanges and cooperation in cyberspace, jointly discussed with international community the practical paths and concrete measures for building a community with a shared future in cyberspace, and urged international community to forge more peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyberspace.

9.4.1 Building an International Cooperation Platform in Cyberspace Since 2014, China has hosted World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit, which aimed to build an international platform for China’s connectivity with the world and a Chinese platform for the sharing and co-governance of international Internet.

210

9 International Governance, Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace

In September 2021, with the theme of “Towards a New Era of Digital Civilization: Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace Together”, World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit was successfully staged. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the conference. He emphasized that: “China is willing to work with other countries to shoulder the historical responsibility of promoting human progress by stimulating the vitality of digital economy, enhancing the efficiency of digital government, optimizing the environment of digital society, setting up a digital cooperation structure, and building a strong shield of digital security. China is also willing to work with other countries in the world to make the digital civilization benefit people of all countries and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humankind.” This aroused warm response of the guests and wide recognition of international community. In the online and offline forms, more than 2,000 guests from more than 90 countries and regions talked freely the development picture of human digital civilization, displayed the development achievements of digital technologies, and discussed the strategies for cyberspace cooperation. For the first time, the conference organized the Release and Presentation of “Outstanding Cases of Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace”, which totally collected more than 200 cases declared by domestic and foreign parties, selected 60 typical cases, formed a set of practical cases, and re-evaluated 12 outstanding cases. Focusing on five major fields (i.e. the construction of Internet infrastructure, online cultural exchanges, the innovation-driven development of digital economy, the guarantee of cybersecurity and international cyberspace governance), these cases told the stories of international exchanges and cooperation in the field of cyberspace, vividly interpreted General Secretary Xi Jinping’s ideas of building a community with a shared future in cyberspace at the practical level, and played a positive exemplary role for various parties to deepen digital cooperation. During the conference, the concept paper Sovereignty in Cyberspace: Theory and Practice (Version 3.0) was released, which called on international community to take the common welfare of mankind as the foundation, adhere to the principles of equal consultation, seeking common ground while reserving differences and active practice, strengthen communication and coordinate positions, promote global Internet governance towards a more equitable and reasonable direction, and jointly build a community with a shared future in cyberspace on the basis of safeguarding national cyber sovereignty. In July 2022, World Internet Conference International Organization was established. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter. He stressed that: “The establishment of World Internet Conference International Organization signals an important measure to comply with the trend of the information era and deepen international cooperation in cyberspace. Hopefully, World Internet Conference will adhere to the principle of high-starting-point planning, high-standard construction and high-level progress, enlarge common consultation through dialogues and exchanges, promote sharing through practical cooperation, and contribute wisdom and strength to the development and governance of global Internet.” World Internet Conference International Organization aims to work with various parties dedicated

9.4 China Energetically Carries Out International Exchanges and Cooperation

211

to Internet development to jointly build a global Internet platform for consultation and cooperation for shared benefits, urge international community to comply with the trend of digitalization, networking and intelligence, jointly tackle the challenges to cybersecurity, seek development and welfare, and build a community with a shared future in cyberspace. World Internet Conference International Organization comprises the General Assembly, the Council and the Secretariat. Its members come from leading enterprises, authoritative institutions, industrial organizations, well-known experts and scholars and relevant international institutions in the field of global Internet. As an international organization, the conference will successfully hold the Wuzhen Summit, actively organize regional and thematic forums or seminars, build a platform for the in-depth exchanges and cooperation among its members, and provide services and support for members in development, capability improvement and exhibition.

9.4.2 Participating in the Governance Process Under the UN Framework China has always supported the core role of the United Nations in international cyberspace governance and advocated the formulation of internationally-accepted cyberspace rules under the framework of the United Nations to safeguard the security, stability and prosperity of cyberspace. Over the past year, China actively partook in the United Nations Internet governance agenda and urged various parties to jointly discuss and formulate international rules in cyberspace. In 2021, China constructively participated in the United Nations Information Security Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) and Group of Governmental Experts (UNGGE) to promote the successful conclusion of the report of the “dual-track process” as well as the consensus on the “framework of responsible behavior of states in cyberspace”. From December 2021 to June 2022, according to relevant resolutions of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the new five-year United Nations Information Security Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) held the first and second sessions. China constructively led the OEWG process and actively promoted the formulation of international rules on international cyberspace governance. As a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Human Rights Council is committed to safeguarding human rights in various countries. Since 2019, it has held annual conclaves to provide a platform for various countries, the UN institutions, national human rights institutions and civil or social organizations to communicate, exchange and display achievements. In January 2022, China Federation of Internet Societies attended the fourth conclave of the United Nations Human Rights Council to publicize China’s ideas and development achievements on human rights from a civil perspective, and demonstrate the results of Chinese civil or social organizations in consolidating the achievements of poverty alleviation, promoting rural revitalization and boosting the protection of women and children’s

212

9 International Governance, Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace

rights and interests to international community. In March 2022, China Federation of Internet Societies and China Foundation for Human Rights Development jointly held a video side event with the theme of “Bridging the Digital Divide and Promoting Human Rights Protection” to discuss issues related to bridging the digital divide and sharing the development dividend, which possessed great significance for responding to Global Development Initiative and fostering the construction of a community with a shared future in cyberspace. World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is the largest annual summit in the field of world information and communication technology held by the United Nations. Internet Society of China has organized seminars on the WSIS platform for several years to discuss issues related to information fair service and inclusive construction. In April 2022, Internet Society of China again applied for the organization of “Information Accessibility Seminar”, and invited domestic and foreign guests from International Telecommunication Union, China Disabled Persons’ Federation, UNESCO and other institutions to discuss issues related to the multi-channel promotion of the application and service construction of the elder-friendly Internet, and jointly promote the construction of inclusive information society. China has deeply participated in the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) for many years and conducted extensive exchanges and discussions with representatives from global political, business, academic and non-governmental organizations. In December 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission planned and organized a number of open forums, seminars, announcements and awards at the 16th United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF), and actively promoted China’s experiences and practices in the fields of AI governance and personal information protection. International Cooperation Bureau of Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies jointly held an open forum themed on “The Development and Rule-making of AI” to share China’s experience in AI technological innovation, discuss AI governance and rule-making, and urge various parties to strengthen governance cooperation in the field of AI. China Federation of Internet Societies, Cyber Security Association of China, China Internet Development Foundation and Fuxi Institution jointly hosted the seminar on “Building Meaningful Standards for the Necessary Scopes of Personal Information Collection and Processing” to discuss international standards and norms for the necessary scopes of personal information collection and processing. China Federation of Internet Societies, Communication University of China and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund jointly released The Research Report on Artificial Intelligence for Children: The Application of Artificial Intelligence for Children to share educational practical cases with Chinese characteristics of AI and deeply explore AI technological and ethical norms conducive to the healthy growth of children.

9.4 China Energetically Carries Out International Exchanges and Cooperation

213

9.4.3 Promoting International Exchanges and Cooperation in the Fields of Digital Economy and Digital Trade China actively carries out exchanges and cooperation in the field of digital economy with other countries, and makes contributions to the development of global digital economy, trade and investment growth and economic recovery. In the field of multilateral cooperation, China has actively participated in the work related to digital economy under multilateral mechanisms such as Group of 20, Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and BRICS, which fully demonstrated China’s responsibilities to voluntarily take part in international cooperation and relevant rule-making in digital economy. In October 2021, at the 16th G20 Leaders’ Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the Summit in the form of video and delivered an important speech. He stressed that G20 should share the responsibilities in the digital era, accelerate the construction of new-type digital infrastructure, promote the deep integration of digital technology and real economy, help developing countries bridge the digital divide, and boost the healthy and orderly development of digital economy. Initiated by China, G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rome included China’s propositions of “supporting an open, fair and non-discriminatory digital economic development environment” in the declaration of the Summit. In August 2021, G20 Digital Ministers’ Meeting was held. Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other departments participated in the consultation of the outcome documents of the meeting, such as Declaration of G20 Digital Ministers: Leveraging Digitalisation for a Resilient, Strong, Sustainable and Inclusive Recovery and G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration, and promoted the G20 Digital Economy Task Force to be successfully upgraded to the Digital Economy Working Group. In December 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission hosted the APEC Seminar on Optimizing the Digital Business Environment. With the theme of “Optimizing the Digital Business Environment and Stimulating the Vitality of Market Entities”, the seminar invited representatives from APEC economies such as China and Chile to jointly discuss typical experiences and practices of optimizing the business environment at home and abroad. In June 2022, the 2022 APEC SME Digital Economy Development Conference was held. Representatives of APEC economies discussed the development plan of digital economy for small and medium-sized enterprises in the Asia–Pacific Region with the theme of “Innovation, Empowerment and Inclusiveness”. At the conference, The Report on the Digital Index of SMEs in 2021 was released, and the digital index system of SMEs was established. Additionally, in order to support APEC economies in enhancing the construction of digital capability and promoting the realization of digital, green and coordinated transformation, China actively put forward the initiatives of “Strengthening Digital Capability Building in the Post-Pandemic Era, Bridging the Digital Gap” and “Digital, Green and Coordinated Transformation and Development” in the APEC Digital Economy Steering Group, which were unanimously approved by the Digital Economy Steering Group. In June 2022, the 12th Meeting of the BRICS Trade Ministers was held,

214

9 International Governance, Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace

and the outcome documents like The BRICS Digital Economy Partnership Framework and The BRICS Initiative on Enhancing Cooperation on Supply Chains were published. In August 2021, China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Forum on the Digital Economy Industry and 2021 China International Intelligent Industry Expo was staged. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter. The forum deeply discussed the cutting-edge theories of global digital economy, actively shared the latest achievements of intelligent industrial technologies, and jointly determined the trends and opportunities for the development of digital economy. All social sectors showed great enthusiasm and actively participated. Besides, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade actively carries out relevant work of International Chamber of Commerce in the name of “International Chamber of Commerce China (ICC China)”.2 In the second half of 2021, the Banking Committee of International Chamber of Commerce set up a working group on the commercialization of digital rules, aiming to promote relevant rules on digitalization in the fields of trade and finance globally. China National Committee of International Chamber of Commerce successfully recommended three Chinese people to join the working group.3 In the field of bilateral cooperation, China’s cooperation with other countries in e-commerce, digital trade and other fields continues to improve. By the end of 2021, China had signed e-commerce cooperation memorandums with 23 countries, established bilateral e-commerce cooperation mechanisms, and initiated activities on policy communication and trade promotion. As the second largest country in the world in digital economy, China has broad space of cooperation with ASEAN in many fields of digital economy. In July 2022, with the support of Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ASEANChina Center hosted a “Briefing on ASEAN-China Digital Cooperation”, which focused on the status quo and vision of ASEAN-China digital cooperation, digital economy, cybersecurity policy and emergency response, data governance and the construction of ASEAN-China information port. In the same month, ASEAN-China Digital Economy Development and Cooperation Forum was held. With the theme of “Sharing New Digital Opportunities and Exploring a New Future of Cooperation”, the forum highlighted deepening ASEAN-China industrial cooperation in digital economy and involved multiple key fields such as AI, cross-border e-commerce and industrial cooperation, aiming to build a platform for deepening ASEAN-China digital economy cooperation in policy communication and industrial connection and promote the development and cooperation of ASEAN-China digital economy. In September 2021, Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region People’s Government jointly held “ChinaASEAN Information Harbor Night” event with the help of the platform of World 2

As an international economic organization with wide influence, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) comprises business representatives and industrial experts from more than 50 countries. Its three major responsibilities are international commercial rule-making, dispute resolution and policy recommendation. Presently, ICC has more than 90 national committees globally, which was granted the UN observer status in 2016. 3 As the member committee of International Chamber of Commerce in China, International Chamber of Commerce China (ICC China) is used when it conducts business related to ICC.

9.4 China Energetically Carries Out International Exchanges and Cooperation

215

Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit. With the theme of “Jointly Building the Digital Silk Road and Sharing the Digital Dividend”, the event invited officials from the competent departments of digital economy of ASEAN member states, ASEAN envoys to China and entrepreneurs to jointly discuss the direction of cooperation in the digital field. The event released two digital solutions for ASEAN. In January 2022, the Second China-ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting was held in the form of video. The Meeting adopted The Action Plan for the Implementation of China-ASEAN Digital Economy Partnership 2021–2025 and China-ASEAN Digital Cooperation Plan for 2022. The two sides reached consensus on strengthening the connection of digital policies, emerging technologies, the innovation and application of digital technologies, digital security and the cooperation in digital capability building. China enhances China-Africa digital economic cooperation and expands the scope of “Silk Road E-commerce” to benefit more African countries. In November 2021, at the opening ceremony of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the “Nine Projects” of practical cooperation with Africa, including the “Digital Innovation Project”. Relevant content of “strengthening China-Africa cooperation in the field of Internet” was included in the outcome document of the ministerial conference Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Dakar Action Plan 2022–2024. In September 2021 and April 2022, China successively held the “Forum on China-Africa Cooperation African Product E-commerce Promotion Season” and the “4th Double-Product Online Shopping Festival and African Good Things Online Shopping Festival” to introduce more African products to China and promote the diversification and facilitation of China-Africa trade structure. Central bank digital currency means an effective measure to solve the problem of cross-border payment. 2021 saw the rapid development of central bank digital currency. Various countries continued to increase the research, development and competition in the field of central bank digital currency. The People’s Bank of China strengthens cooperation in the field of digital currency with central banks of various countries and international institutions such as Bank for International Settlements, International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, steadily explores feasible solutions for central bank digital currency in the cross-border field, and deeply participates in the formulation of standards and principles in central bank digital currency, stable currency supervision and other fields.

9.4.4 Continuously Carrying Out International Cooperation in Cybersecurity China actively holds talks with international community on cybersecurity to jointly address the challenges to cybersecurity. In April 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed Global Security Initiative for the first time in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022, calling on

216

9 International Governance, Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace

international community to jointly tackle global issues including cybersecurity. Since 2021, China has actively carried out dialogues on cybersecurity with international community and made remarkable progress. China energetically participates in the BRICS cybersecurity process. Since 2021, China has participated in the mechanisms of the BRICS Cyberspace CounterTerrorism Working Group and Cybersecurity Working Group many times and shared China’s practices in combating cyber terrorism, as well as China’s experience of policies, strategies and legislation on cybersecurity and data security. In May 2022, China hosted the 8th Meeting of the BRICS Cybersecurity Working Group and promoted various parties to reach the progress report The BRICS Roadmap of Practical Cooperation on Ensuring Security in the Use of ICTs. Various countries appreciated the constructive and leading role played by China, generally agreeing that the BRICS countries should strengthen solidarity, pool consensus, and take the progress report reached at the meeting as an opportunity to jointly raise the cybersecurity cooperation with the BRICS countries to a new level. China actively leads the information security process of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In September 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 21st Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and positively spoke of the work done by SCO member states in resolutely curbing the spread of cybercrimes and jointly maintaining regional security and stability. China promoted such statements as “resolutely opposing the militarization of the field of information and communication technology”, “establishing a secure, working and open information space on the basis of respecting national sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries”, and “all countries having equal rights in the governance of Internet and cyber sovereignty” to be written into Dushanbe Summit Declaration. In September 2021, during the 21st Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China successfully urged various parties to sign The 2022–2023 Cooperation Plan for SCO Member States to Safeguard International Information Security. China strengthens dialogues with the United States, Europe, ASEAN, Thailand, Indonesia and other countries and regions in the field of cybersecurity. In July 2022, Cyberspace Administration of China (Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission) and National Cybersecurity Office of the Kingdom of Thailand signed The Memorandum of Understanding on Cybersecurity Cooperation, which planned to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in cybersecurity and maintain the stability of cyberspace. In the same month, Cyberspace Administration of China and National Internet and Cryptography Bureau of Indonesia signed an action plan for cybersecurity cooperation. On the basis of The Memorandum of Understanding on the Development of Cybersecurity Capability Building and Technological Cooperation signed in 2021, the two sides will further deepen their cooperation in cybersecurity capability building. In October 2021, China National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center (CNCERT/CC), on behalf of dialogue partner country, was invited to participate in “2021 ASEAN and Dialogue Partner Countries Cybersecurity Emergency Drill” organized by ASEAN, which

9.4 China Energetically Carries Out International Exchanges and Cooperation

217

jointly exchanged the emergency response technologies and capabilities of CERT organizations in various countries in handling cybersecurity incidents, and enhanced the cooperation between ASEAN and partner countries in protecting cybersecurity. In November 2021, CNCERT/CC hosted 2021 African Regional Video Conference of CNCERT/CC International Partners, in which more than 30 representatives from 17 organizations in Central Africa attended. The representatives exchanged ideas on the vision of regional cooperation in emergency response, the training of cybersecurity technologies and many others. Additionally, relevant Chinese think tanks, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) of the United States, Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) of the Netherlands and the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) have jointly organized two-track dialogues on cybersecurity many times to discuss issues such as the progress of cybersecurity policies, the formulation of cyberspace rules and the cooperation in cybersecurity. China has resolutely opposed and combated all forms of cybercrimes according to law, and made full use of international bilateral and multilateral platforms to promote trans-national cooperation in cracking down on cybercrimes. At the United Nations level, Chinese government has participated in relevant meetings of The United Nations Convention on Combating Cybercrimes many times, and urged various parties to reach consensus on the framework and negotiation arrangements of the Convention. In May 2021, the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on launching the negotiation of The United Nations Convention on Combating Cybercrimes. China actively participated in the negotiation meetings and carried out discussions on the general principles, procedural provisions and other content of the Convention. At the level of international organizations, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate of China actively attends international multilateral meetings such as the Meeting of the BRICS Heads of Prosecution Services, the ChinaASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference and the Meeting of Prosecutor Generals of the SCO Member States, and reaches consensus with the procuratorial organs of various countries on jointly combating cybercrimes. Ministry of Public Security of China actively participates in the activities under international and regional mechanisms such as International Criminal Police Organization, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ASEAN and BRICS, sharing experiences on topics such as cyber anti-terrorism and combating cybercrimes, and providing China’s solutions for the formulation of international rules on cyberspace governance. At the level of bilateral cooperation, Ministry of Public Security of China collaborates with lawenforcement agencies of various countries in cracking down on all kinds of illegal online activities. Since 2021, China has actively responded to more than 200 requests for assistance in investigating cybercrime cases submitted by law-enforcement agencies in more than 30 countries and regions. In December 2021, China held the 3rd Ministerial Conference of China-CELAC Forum, which promoted the formation of outcome documents and underscored that both sides “should improve the judicial assistance mechanism to combat cybercrimes and maintain the peace and security of cyberspace”. In May 2022, China and Fiji jointly held the 2nd China-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Participants jointly issued the position paper on mutual respect and common development between China and Pacific Islands, which affirmed

218

9 International Governance, Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace

that “China is willing to work with Pacific Islands to combat trans-national crimes including cybercrimes and jointly address non-traditional security threats”.

9.4.5 Actively Promoting the Formulation of International Rules in the Fields of Information Technologies and Standards China actively participates in the formulation of international rules in the fields of information technologies and standards, promotes the release and approval of Chinadominated international standards, and makes breakthroughs in the establishment of international standard and technology organizations. In November 2021, Chinese research institutions deeply participated in ISO/IEC JTC 1 international standardization activities in the fields of brain-computer interface, UAV industry, ICV security and smart community infrastructure, promoted the establishment of international standard and technology organizations, and achieved breakthroughs in the work of international standardization organizations in the field of information technology in China. Chinese research institutions actively accelerate the release of international standards in the fields of IoT, smart city, educational informatization, trust root security and cryptographic algorithm, which lays a solid foundation for the international development of related industries. Specifically, SM4 cryptographic algorithm, another independent cryptographic algorithm technology released after international standards such as SM2, SM3, SM9 and ZUC cryptographic algorithms, signals the basic completion of the international standardization system of Chinese cryptographic algorithm. In March 2021, the first international standard in the field of industrial Internet network led by Chinese research institutions was adopted, which made a breakthrough for the international standardization of industrial Internet. Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with relevant departments, successfully includes “BDS-2” and “BDS-3” in the 3GPP standard system, formulates around 30 international standards related to BDS network-assisted satellite positioning and high-precision positioning, and fills the gap of BDS in the field of international mobile communication standards. Besides, Chinese research institutions successfully promote the proposal of international standards in brain-computer interaction, AI, cloud computing and other fields. Chinese governmental departments and research institutions vigorously promote bilateral and multilateral dialogues and cooperation, augment the voice in standardmaking, build BRICS standard innovation platforms in the digital field grounded in BRICS cooperation mechanism, and expand the overseas application of Chinese intelligent manufacturing standards with the help of Sino-German Standardization Cooperation Organization. They also actively respond to the Belt and Road Initiative

9.4 China Energetically Carries Out International Exchanges and Cooperation

219

and participate in bilateral or multilateral dialogue mechanisms, which widely publicize password management policies in China, effectively dispel foreign misunderstandings, and create a good external environment for the development of commercial passwords.

9.4.6 Actively Participating in Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of Internet Basic Resources The Russian-Ukrainian conflict poses serious risks and challenges to international governance of Internet basic resources. The stability of the Internet root domain name system plays a crucial role in global connectivity, which protects international governance of Internet basic resources from geopolitical conflicts. Chinese technological community actively participates in the work of international organizations and platforms in the field of Internet basic resources, such as Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), so as to continuously improve the international governance system of domain name resources. Particularly, Chinese governmental departments and research institutions have organized or attended the exchanges and discussions on ICANN-related topics many times, playing an important role in interpreting the trends of industrial policies, promoting the formulation of relevant policies and fostering the healthy and orderly development of the industry. In January 2022, representatives of China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) were successfully re-elected as members of Internet Architecture Board (IAB) of Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). China continues to enhance the research capability in the field of Internet basic resources and technologies and make more contributions to the advancement of international Internet technologies.

9.4.7 Deepening International Cooperation in the Field of Data Security Data security becomes a hot topic in major countries and regions in the world. To hedge against the risks to data security, various countries need to forge mutual trust and deepen cooperation. In 2020, China put forward Global Data Security Initiative, which contributed China’s solutions to the formulation of global rules on digital governance and evoked widespread and positive responses in international community. On the basis of Global Data Security Initiative, in 2021, China and League of Arab States jointly issued China-League of Arab States Cooperation Initiative on Data Security, and Arab States became the first region in the world to jointly release data security initiative with China. The China-League of Arab States cooperation in the field of data security fully demonstrates the openness and superiority of

220

9 International Governance, Exchanges and Cooperation in Cyberspace

China’s solution, and provides an outstanding example for members of international community to join the cooperation process. In June 2022, in the third meeting of foreign ministers of “China + five Central Asian countries”, various parties signed “China + Five Central Asian Countries” Cooperation Initiative on Data Security. Central Asian countries asserted their support for Global Data Security Initiative proposed by China, willing to work with China to cope with the risks and challenges to data security and carry out relevant cooperation under the frameworks of the United Nations and other international organizations. After China-League of Arab States Cooperation Initiative on Data Security, the publication of “China + Five Central Asian Countries” Cooperation Initiative on Data Security marked a step forward of Global Data Security Initiative proposed by China.

9.4.8 Promoting the Cooperation and Cultural Exchanges and Mutual Learning of Online Media Internet serves as an important platform for the exchanges and mutual learning of world civilizations. China gives full play to unique advantages of Internet, promotes the cooperation and cultural exchanges of online media, and establishes a solid cultural foundation for the construction of a community with a shared future in cyberspace. In November 2021, China-Russia Internet Media Forum was staged. Focusing on the theme of “Promoting Exchanges and Mutual Learning and Deepening Practical Cooperation”, the forum discussed from the perspectives of industrial trend, innovation and cooperation and offered opinions and suggestions for Chinese and Russian Internet media to deepen the cooperation in Internet industry. At the forum, Chinese and Russian Internet media jointly reached Chinese-Russian Internet Media Consensus in 2021. In 2021, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China supported building an online learning platform “China Tourism Course” for overseas travelling salesmen and tourism employees, in which more than 100 countries in the world participated. Tourism authorities and industrial associations of various countries vigorously publicized the platform and provided a “China Model” for other countries to carry out the post-pandemic inbound tourism. Simultaneously, China makes full use of digital technologies to boost international exchanges on cultural heritage. In 2021, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China organized a demonstration project of “Digital Restoration and Display of Chinese Cultural Relics (Grotto Temples) in Overseas Collections”, which applied technologies such as autostereoscopy to develop various digital restoration and display platforms such as applets and mobile apps to promote the digital restoration and sharing of cultural relics lost overseas.

Postscript

Nowadays, surging tide of information revolution is historically combined with the strategy of the rejuvenation of Chinese nation amid global changes unseen in a century. Internet development faces significant historical opportunities and has broad prospects, entering a new stage in the journey of achieving the Second Centenary Goal. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially his important thought on Building China into a Cyber Power, China has firmly seized the historical opportunity for the development of information technology, witnessed historical achievement and transformation, and developed from a major country in cyberspace to a power in cyberspace. With China Internet Development Report 2022 (hereinafter referred to as “the Report”), we hope to thoroughly publicize and interpret General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially his important thought on Building China into a Cyber Power, comprehensively showcase China Internet development, systematically summarize the experience of China Internet development, scientifically envisage China Internet development, and greet the successful opening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. We also hope to introduce experience and contribute wisdom to world Internet development and governance by exploring the path of China Internet development. During the compilation of the Report, we receive guidance and support from Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission (hereinafter referred to as “OCCAC”). Leaders of OCCAC give us specific guidance on the Report. Relevant ministries & commissions (e.g. General Office of the State Council and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology), bureaus and units of OCCAC as well as Office of the Cyberspace Affairs Commission in provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) provide us with strong support in relevant data and materials. The Report is launched by Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies (CACS) and co-compiled by experts in the Internet field. Experts and scholars, including Zhang Li, Liu Jiuru, Zhao Guojun, Lang Ping, Li Guangqian and Wang Limei, contribute their valuable suggestions. Main contributors are: Xia Xueping, Xuan Xingzhang, Li Yingxin, Qian Xianliang, Zou Xiaoxiang, © Publishing House of Electronics Industry 2024 China Internet Development Report 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5130-7

221

222

Postscript

Cheng Yifeng, Jiang Wei, Jiang Yang, Wang Hailong, Li Xiaojiao, Jiang Shuli, Tian Yuan, Yang Xiaohan, Chi Haiyan, Liu Chaochao, Jia Shuowei, Yuan Xin, Li Wei, Liu Yao, Xu Yanfei, Xu Yu, Chen Jing, Xiao Zheng, Zhao Gaohua, Wu Wei, Wang Pu, Lin Hao, Meng Qingshun, Wang Yitong, Guo Siyuan, Ye Bei, Cai Yang, Yang Xuecheng, Sui Yue, Xu Xiaoyu, Zhang Xuejun, Shi Xiaoshuang, Gao Pan, Fu Wei, Zhang Jing, Meng Qingguo, Wang Lida, Lin Ying, Xie Xinzhou, Zhu Yaoying, Zhang Jingyi, Wang Xiaoqun, Wang Yiyu, Shang Xixue, Han Haiting and Xu Peixi. The Report, albeit successfully published thanks to the strong support and considerable help from all sectors of society, is inadequate in terms of perspective and insight due to our limited research level, working experience and tight deadline. Therefore, we ardently welcome valuable opinions and suggestions from governmental departments, international organizations, research institutes, Internet corporations and social organizations across different sectors, home and abroad, to help us produce better reports in the future and contribute more wisdom and strength to world Internet development. Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies (CACS). August 2022.